Central Banking
The Italian lira: 1896-1997
Bank of Italy publishes information on pre-euro currency
International bodies fulfil G20 recommendation on information gaps
European Central Bank, Bank for International Settlements and IMF publish second part of Securities Statistics Handbook to address information gaps
Boston Fed: Massachusetts suburb receives housing boost from Boston
A Boston Federal Reserve study shows inner city growth impacts positively on housing recovery in suburban areas
Hungary told to lift cap on central bankers’ pay
European Commission says Hungary could face legal action if it does not lift salary cap on central bank employees
Pakistan set to pick bureaucrat as next governor
Islamabad looks likely to break with trend and pick former government official Shahid Kardar as next State Bank of Pakistan governor, reports say
The big divide over deflation and debt
In the fifth of a six-part series on the Japanese economy, Robert Pringle reports from Tokyo on how the crisis has impacted Japan’s global outlook
EXCLUSIVE: Don’t rely on near-zero rates, says Rajan
Former IMF chief economist Raghuram Rajan warns the Federal Reserve has no quick fixes to solve United States’ economic ills but says Bernanke right man for the job
Interview: Raghuram Rajan
University of Chicago Booth School of Business' Raghuram Rajan on Fed policy and officials, the structural flaws in the US economy, and the future of economics in central banks
De La Rue says staff falsified banknote tests
Banknote printer says investigation into printing irregularities has revealed staff at Hampshire plant deliberately falsified paper specification tests
Federal Reserve: discount rate minutes July-August 2010
Two of 12 regional Feds wanted higher primary credit rate
IMF: Fiscal health helps weather negative externalities
Fund study shows that fiscal austerity can weaken effects of negative demand shocks on growth in low income countries
Israel's Fischer: economy experienced recession not depression
Bank of Israel governor Stanley Fischer says country survived the recession due to strength of economy at onset of crisis
ECB’s Bini Smaghi: contagion must be contained through rules-based approach
European Central Bank member Lorenzo Bini Smaghi says countries should stop paying lip service and instead adopt a rules-based approach to stopping contagion
Margaret Cole joins UK FSA Board
Financial Services Authority promotes Margaret Cole to board as managing director of enforcement and financial crime
Banks upped exposure to troubled eurozone states in first quarter: BIS
Bank for International Settlements says first quarter figures show exposure to Portugal, Greece and Spain grew, in spite of default worries
Afghanistan’s Fitrat says Kabul Bank no longer in danger: reports
Bank of Afghanistan governor Abdul Qadeer Fitrat claims beleaguered Kabul Bank is out of danger, despite continued run on bank, reports say
Adia appoints new chief economist
Chief economist Ted Chu joins Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth fund from General Motors
ECB documents success of eurozone retail payment systems
European Central Bank releases comprehensive overview of the payments systems, including underlying concepts and the role of the central bank; book notes success of Step1 commercial payment system
Israel justifies rate hold
Bank of Israel minutes flag economic uncertainty as factor behind Governor Stanley Fischer opting to hold rates
IMF: policymakers benefit from data standards initiatives
Fund study says IMF data standards initiatives benefit quality of economic forecasts and subsequent policy decisions
BoE’s Haldane: China must not overshoot on financial reform
Bank of England executive director Andrew Haldane says China must continue to promote patience while harnessing impatience
Bank of Israel: FX intervention forced shekel depreciation
Bank of Israel study says ad hoc purchases successfully depreciated the value of the shekel against the US dollar
ECB’s González-Páramo highlights flaws in collateral framework
European Central Bank executive board member José Manuel González-Páramo acknowledges risks in central bank’s willingness to accept broad range of collateral
Settlement system gets go-ahead from RBNZ
Reserve Bank of New Zealand and Securities Commission give “statutory backing” country’s third settlement system; system a joint venture between central bank and stock exchange operator