Central Banking
Stop storing coins, says Solomon Islands CB
The Central Bank of the Solomon Islands has called on citizens to swap their coins for notes rather than hoarding them - a practice which has led to a shortage.
UK's Blanchflower calls for bigger cuts
Aggressive easing is required to prevent the UK falling into recession, said David Blanchflower, a member of the Bank of England's rate-setting committee.
FOMC could do with a revamp: ex-Fed deputy
The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) should introduce staff, instead of committee, forecasts, recommended Alan Blinder, a former vice-chairman of the Fed.
Relaxing collateral standards presents risks
By accepting poorer collateral central banks can reduce banks' incentives to hold sufficient amounts of higher-quality assets, said Stefan Ingves, the governor of the Sveriges Riksbank.
Securitisation linked with lending standards fall
Lending standards in the subprime mortgage market declined more in areas with higher mortgage securitisation rates, reports a new International Monetary Fund paper.
Japan lowers growth forecast
The Bank of Japan has chopped more than half a point off its growth estimate for 2008 and warned that in a highly uncertain climate, downside risks to the economy could further limit expansion.
IMF redundancy offer oversubscribed
The International Monetary Fund's bid to cut its workforce by 13% by offering voluntary redundancy packages has led to over 20% of employees asking to leave.
Sri Lanka reacts as inflation hits record high
The Central Bank of Sri Lanka has lowered its reserve money targets in a bid to curb rampant inflation which soared to an all-time high in the year to April.
Saudi to set up $5.3 billion wealth fund
Saudi Arabia is in the final stages of launching its first sovereign wealth fund.
ECB's Papademos on financial integration
Financial integration is highly relevant to the Eurosystem's role in safeguarding financial stability, said Lucas Papademos, the vice president of the European Central Bank (ECB).
Thailand's Watanagase on the role of the IMF
The development of crisis prevention instruments by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is critical and should be given priority, said Tarisa Watanagase, the governor of the Bank of Thailand.
Hurley praises Ireland's financial oversight
The level of co-operation between central bankers and regulators in Ireland proves very useful in managing financial crises, said John Hurley, the governor of the Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland.
Bank lending falls in Norway
Household credit demand in Norway declined in the first quarter of 2008, reports a recent survey of bank lending by the Bank of Norway.
Fed cuts to 2%
The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) lowered rates by a quarter point on Wednesday.
IMF governors pass reform measures
The vast majority of the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) governing board has backed a raft of reforms that will see emerging markets have a greater say in how the organisation is run.
OMO changes must temper money-market woe: King
Mervyn King, the governor of the Bank of England, said the central bank must ensure its revised system for open market operations leads to overnight interbank rates remaining close to its official rate regardless of financial market conditions.
UK counterfeit seizures fall for 3rd straight year
The number of counterfeit banknotes in circulation confiscated by the British authorities plummeted by almost a quarter last year. The total face value of counterfeit notes found also fell by a similar degree.
India warns on prices but keeps rates unchanged
The Reserve Bank of India held rates at its quarterly monetary policy meeting on Tuesday in spite of inflation reaching a three-year high in the weeks leading up the meeting.
Mauritius calls special meeting
The Bank of Mauritius will hold a special Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting on 2 May, the central bank said on Tuesday.
Trichet remains firm on inflation
In all circumstances, but even more in times of heightened uncertainty in global financial markets, a strong commitment to price stability over the medium term is essential, said Jean-Claude Trichet, the president of the European Central Bank (ECB).
ECB's TARGET Annual Report 2007
In 2007, use of TARGET, a large-value payment system in the euro area, surged in terms of both volume and value of transactions business, the annual report on the system states.
Good year ahead for US farming
US farmers could enjoy another bountiful year, due in large part to rising export opportunities, finds an economic report published by the Kansas City Federal Reserve.
New financial centre forming in Trinidad?
Trinidad and Tobago should establish itself as a financial hub for the greater Caribbean region and as a financial gateway for Latin America, said Ewart Williams, the governor of the central bank.
Fed welcomes SWF investment
Scott Alvarez, the general counsel of the Federal Reserve, has told the US Senate that the central bank welcomed investments by foreign sovereign wealth funds in American banks and financial institutions.