Central Banking
Iraq seeking $40bn GCC debt relief
Iraq's central bank chief has said he hopes the Gulf GCC countries will follow the example of other states and give Iraq 'generous treatment' over debt cancellation.
SNB see profit fall on gold price, US $
The Swiss National Bank (SNB) has reported an annual net profit of 12.8 bln sfr for the full year 2005, compared to 21.6 bln sfr a year earlier due to the sharp rise in both the gold price and the US dollar.
National Reserve Bank of Tonga - Ann Rep 2004-05
According to the National Reserve Bank of Tonga's Annual Report 2004-05, economic growth is estimated to have picked up from the slowdown in 2003/04, underpinned by a broad-based recovery in most sectors.
RBNZ's Bollard on major global developments
In the speech 'Major global developments in the new millennium' given on 27 January Alan Bollard of the RBNZ said New Zealand has been growing strongly over the last decade, driven by improved efficiency, high participation and stronger terms of trade.
So much forex reserve, is it a blessing?
After recent figures showed China is not far behind Japan, the world's largest holder of foreign exchange reserves, this article published on Thursday 26 January asks: is it a blessing to have such an enormous forex reserve?
Bank of Canada Monetary Policy Report Update
The Bank of Canada released its January 2006 Monetary Policy Report Update on 26 January. The Canadian and world economies are evolving essentially in line with the Bank's expectations, and the outlook for growth and inflation in Canada is similar to…
RBI's Reddy on the role of accountants
In the speech 'Role of accountants in fostering economic growth' given on 19 January Dr YV Reddy of the Reserve Bank of India said the relationship between the RBI and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India has been mutually reinforcing, where…
Comment: Greenspan's legacy
As the curtains are drawn on the Alan Greenspan era at the Federal Reserve, the debate over whether or not the Fed should have increased interest rates to curb asset bubbles rages on. This debate misses the extent to which the Fed's actions may have…
Greenspan receives Dept of Defense medal
Outgoing Federal Reserve chairman, Alan Greenspan, was presented with the Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service by US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld on Monday 23 January.
Report says CB gold sales won't meet quota
HSBC analyst Alan Williamson told Dow Jones on Friday 27 January that European central banks are highly unlikely to sell the total 2,500 tons of gold allowed under the current agreement.
Takeuchi to join BOJ board - report
World Bank economist Sawako Takeuchi has been named as the likely replacement for Miyako Suda on the Bank of Japan's board.
Officials warn Japan's deflation not yet over
Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said on Friday 27 January that although the key CPI rose for the second straight month in December, the country's economy has not yet emerged from deflation.
Slovakia's Sramko named central banker of 2006
The governor of the Central Bank of Slovakia, Ivan Sramko, has been named as The Banker magazine's its Central Banker of the Year for 2006.
Zhou says dollar weighting less than 50%
The weighting of the dollar in China's currency basket used as a reference to value the yuan is "much less than 50 percent," according to the People's Bank of China governor.
Gulf seminar warns of monetary policy risks
A four-day regional seminar on 'monetary operations and liquidity management' in Muscat, Oman, has cautioned Gulf central banks against risks and challenges involved in monetary operations.
Bush nominates two to Fed board
The White House announced on Friday 27 January it was nominating Randall Kroszner and Kevin Warsh to fill two vacancies on the Federal Reserve's seven-member board of governors.
Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago - Ann Rep 2004
2003-2004 saw the Bank take further steps to improve the efficiency of monetary policy through a phased reduction in the reserve requirement, according to the Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago's Annual Report 2004.
Third Euro-Mediterranean central bank seminar
The third Euro-Mediterranean seminar, which brings together Eurosystem and non-euro area Mediterranean central banks, was jointly organised by the Bank of Greece and the European Central Bank and held in Nafplion on 25 January.
Report says Greenspan to set up consulting firm
Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan plans to establish a consulting firm called Greenspan Associates in Washington after he leaves the central bank at the end of the month, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday 26 January.
Hunt on for 'radioactive dollars' in Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan is currently hunting for dozens of "radioactive dollars" circulating in the country's financial system.
CBK says it won't devalue shilling
The Central Bank of Kenya has insisted it will not intervene in the market to devalue the strengthening shilling in the face of continued pressure from agricultural exporters.
China pledges further liberalisation of rates, FX
People's Bank of China governor, Zhou Xiaochuan, pledged on Thursday 26 January to liberalise China's interest rate and foreign exchange policy further as part of wider economic reform but said the moves would be gradual.
BoE's Gieve: Oil prices should not impact on rates
John Gieve, the new deputy governor of the Bank of England, on Thursday 26 January rejected suggestions that UK interest rates should rise simply because of very high energy costs.
Cheney praises Fed's 'superb' performance
US Vice President Dick Cheney said the White House has no argument with the way the Federal Reserve conducts monetary policy, but said Alan Greenspan advised him along time ago not to comment on Fed policy.