Central Banking
Research shows dollarisation and rates link
Since the adoption of inflation targeting and a floating exchange rate in 1999, real interest rates in Brazil have fallen as levels of dollarisation in the economy have dropped, research published by the International Monetary Fund finds.
Fed minutes reveal clear shift in outlook
The minutes of the December meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), published on Wednesday, reveal a more dovish Federal Reserve than was suggested at the time.
BoE credit survey shows crunch impacting lending
The Bank of England's credit conditions survey, published on Thursday, signalled a marked decline in lending to households and businesses towards the end of 2007.
China names two central bank vice governors
The People's Bank of China announced the appointment of two vice governors on Thursday, Yi Gang and Ma Delun.
Venezuelan inflation shoots up to 22.5%
The Central Bank of Venezuela said on Wednesday that inflation in the metropolitan area of Caracas, the country's capital, hit 22.5% in 2007, the highest official rate in Latin America.
ECB could hike rates, says Orphanides
The European Central Bank's rate-setting governing council will not rule out raising interest rates, Athanasios Orphanides, a member of the council and governor of the Central Bank of Cyprus, said on Thursday.
SWFs investment in banks: an alarming trend?
In the wake of the credit crunch banks' capital cushions have deflated dangerously. And, in response, some have turned to one group of investors untouched by subprime credit or by mark-to-market reporting requirements: sovereign wealth funds (SWFs)…
Central Bank of Kuwait - Annual Report 2006-2007
In a bid to combat rising inflation, the Central Bank of Kuwait raised the exchange rate of the Kuwaiti dinar against the greenback from 292 fils to 289 fils per dollar.
Pacific Island SWFs hampered by mismanagement
Little integration with budgets, institutional weaknesses and inadequate controls have hindered the performance of sovereign wealth funds run by the authorities in Pacific Island countries, research published by the International Monetary Fund finds.
Banks have vital role in Mauritian economy
The success of the banking industry is critical for the economic development of Mauritius, says Rundheersing Bheenick, the governor of the Bank of Mauritius.
Kuwaiti SWF could be next to invest on Wall Street
Bader Al-Sa'ad, the head of Kuwait Investment Authority, the state's sovereign wealth fund, indicated that his could be the next fund to inject funds into a finance industry clawing for capital in the aftermath of the subprime crisis.
Venezuela lops zeros off bolivar to curb inflation
Venezuela revamped the bolivar on Tuesday by slashing three zeros from the currency in a bid to dampen rampant inflation, which hit 20.7% in the 12 months to November.
China to name Ma Delun as vice governor
The People's Bank of China is set to appoint Ma Delun as vice governor of the central bank, local media reports said on Wednesday.
Central Bank of Swaziland - Annual Report 06/07
Swaziland's balance of payments improved significantly in 2006.
IMF template reduces exchange rate volatility
The adoption of the International Monetary Fund's International Reserves and Foreign Currency Liquidity Data Template leads to a fall in exchange rate volatility, research published by the Fund finds.
Israel's Fischer notes importance of Basel II
The adoption of the Basel II principles of capital management is one of the largest and most important tasks confronting the Israeli banking system, says Stanley Fischer, the governor of the Bank of Israel.
Interbank rates plummet as year-end passes
Pressure on the banking industry eased on Wednesday with spreads between money market and central banks' benchmark interest rates narrowing as the end-of-year liquidity panic passed. The falls indicate that the central banks' efforts to alleviate some of…
Cyprus and Malta join eurozone
The eurozone became a little larger on Tuesday as Cyprus and Malta, two Mediterranean islands, adopted the single currency.
Public debt management: the Sri Lankan experience
The Central Bank of Sri Lanka has published details of its role in managing the public debt, which it has undertaken since its inception in 1950.
Regulators can't ensure clarity, only encourage it
In the wake of the credit crisis, central bankers and other financial regulators should use their clout to back the standardisation of financial instruments rather than trying to legislate for transparency, says Claire Jones, the editor of Central Bank…
The blame game
The decision of many central banks, most notably the Federal Reserve, to lower rates in the wake of the dotcom crash, has drawn criticism from some quarters post-credit crunch. But, Claire Jones, editor of Central Bank News, argues blame for the crisis…
Time has proved us right, says Trichet
The European Central Bank's (ECB) decision to inject hundreds of billions of extra euros into the money markets to alleviate tensions looks to be the correct one, says Jean-Claude Trichet, the president of the central bank.
Journalist defends Old Lady's "low morale" claims
Irwin Stelzer, the journalist who wrote last week that a senior Bank of England official had said the British chancellor and prime minister were blocking changes to banking regulation because of low morale, has described it as "a pity" that Mervyn King,…
Swiss exchange rate has no impact on rate-setting
The Swiss franc exchange rate is only relevant in monetary policy insofar as it has an impact on Swiss inflation, says Jean-Pierre Roth, the chairman of the Swiss National Bank.