Central Banking
Latest ECB lending data give cause for concern
Banks across the eurozone have tightened their credit standards for loans to businesses by 31% in response to the credit crunch that has hampered the region's money markets since the start of August, according to data from the ECB
Cash costs more than cards in Sweden
Debit and credit card payments have a lower social cost than cash transactions for purchases of more than €8 and €18 respectively, research published by the Riksbank has found.
Turmoil will impact exchange rates - IMF's Kato
The re-pricing of risk taking place as a result of the credit crunch will lead to a rebalancing of currencies and growth in the near future, according to Takatoshi Kato, the deputy managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Mark Carney replaces Dodge at the Bank of Canada
Mark Carney, the senior associate deputy minister of finance and a former head of Goldman Sachs in Canada, will become the youngest central bank chief in the G7 when he takes over from David Dodge as Bank of Canada governor in February 2008.
Rules found to hinder remittance payments
Regulatory compliance is the main barrier to doing business in the area of workers' remittance payments, according to a poll of Sibos delegates.
Hedge funds need transparency, not rules
US and EU regulators remain cool on calls for further regulation of the hedge fund sector.
Target2: ready to go
Five years in the making, Europe's new large-value payments system, known as Target2, is ready to go live on 19 November.
Europe set for SEPA after Sibos session
"SEPA is here! I met it in Boston," declared Jean-Michel Godeffroy, head of payments systems and market infrastructure at the European Central Bank (ECB), as Europe's payment players agreed to send, receive and process euro payments according to new…
Philippines cuts rates
The Central Bank of the Philippines surprised the markets on Thursday by deciding to lower its key policy rates by 25 basis points to 5.75%, for the overnight borrowing rate, and 7.75% for the overnight lending rate.
Egypt to use SIA-SSB payments system
Egypt's central bank picked SIA-SSB, an Italian technology company, to develop its new large-value payments, the company announced at Sibos.
SWF growth necessitates political action
Governments must formulate policy on sovereign wealth funds because the amount of state assets under management is likely to shoot up in coming years.
Central Bank of Seychelles - Annual Report 2006
The economy of the Seychelles grew by 5.3% in 2006, boosted by a buoyant tourist industry.
Turkish governor explains September rate cut
Durmus Yilmaz, the governor of the Central Bank of Turkey, on Friday explained why the central bank decided to make a surprise rate cut in September.
Maintaining growth motivated cut - Fed's Kohn
A 50 basis point cut was necessary to keep the economy on a sustainable growth pace, said Donald Kohn, the vice chairman of the Federal Reserve.
Liquidity, liquidity, liquidity
David Longworth, a deputy governor at the Bank of Canada, discussed three concepts of liquidity in a speech given in Toronto on Wednesday.
BCAEO - Annual Report 2006
Governors from members of the BCAEO alliance were very much involved in shaping the agenda of the March 2006 meeting of the Association of African Central Banks, which was held at the head office of the BCAEO in Dakar, Senegal.
US asks if it is losing its productivity advantage
Strong labour productivity growth in China and India may force some US firms out of business, but will also benefit the world's largest economy.
Banks should lead in growth effort: Zambia CB head
Caleb Fundanga, the governor of the Reserve Bank of Zambia, urged the country's banking industry to invest more in order to spur economic growth and reduce poverty.
ECB holds rates, but "stands ready" for rise
The European Central Bank (ECB) on Thursday decided to hold its benchmark rate at 4%.
Old Lady holds rates, relaxes reserve rules
The Bank of England's monetary policy committee on Thursday said it would keep its benchmark rate at 5.75%.
Fed to stay short of two governors
Senate Banking Committee chairman Chris Dodd has no plans to move three pending nominations to the Federal Reserve Board through his committee and onto the Senate floor, he said on 3 October.
Barbados to give more power to central bank
The Central Bank of Barbados could be granted more independence if the country's parliament agrees to pass its latest Central Bank act. The island's authorities will also open a financial services regulator within months.
Nigeria hikes rates
The Central Bank of Nigeria said on Thursday it would raise its benchmark monetary policy rate by a full percentage point to 9%.
US needs global payments standards, says industry
Should the US adopt international standards in its domestic payment systems? Surprisingly, "yes" was the overwhelming answer at a packed Sibos, Nick Carver, editor of SPEED, writes from Boston.