Central Banking
BCEAU leaders to meet in Niger
Heads of states from the West African Monetary Union are due to hold an extraordinary meeting on 23 December in Niamey, Niger.
Italy agrees central bank reforms
The Italian government approved reforms for the Bank of Italy on Tuesday 20 December, changing the central bank governor's lifetime post to a fixed term.
Adams says China lacks 'consensus' on yuan
The U.S. Treasury's top official for international issues, Tim Adams, said Monday 19 December that China's reticence at allowing a greater role for the market in determining the value of its currency may rest with political leaders who are yet to take a…
Comment: Latin America spurns the Fund
Last week Brazil and Argentina surprised the international community by announcing that they both intend paying off all of their outstanding debt to the IMF before the end of the year.
Fed wraps holiday statement in shade of neutral
According to this recent article, Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan has offered the markets some holiday cheer, hinting at the recent FOMC meeting that the federal funds rate had entered a neutral zone.
ECB's Trichet on European financial integration
In the speech 'European financial integration' given on 16 December Jean-Claude Trichet of the ECB said a lack of integration in eurozone mortgage markets may affect the impact that ECB rate decisions have in different countries.
Bank of England Inflation Attitudes Survey, Nov 05
The Bank of England published its November 2005 Inflation Attitudes Survey on Monday. When asked about the future path of interest rates, 46% expected rates to rise in the next 12 months, compared with 34% in August and 52% in May.
SARB's Quarterly Bulletin, December 2005
The South African Reserve Bank has released its December 2005 Quarterly Bulletin. According to the latest Bulletin, the world economy continued to enjoy robust economic growth in the first three quarters of 2005 and is likely to register real growth of…
Quaden on the National Bank of Belgium
In the speech 'The National Bank of Belgium - a century and a half of Belgian and European history' given on 22 November Guy Quaden of the National Bank of Belgium said it is unusual for modern central banks to be purely central banks.
Garganas says ECB will act on rates if needed
The European Central Bank will raise interest rates in the future if December's hike isn't enough to keep inflation subdued, Bank of Greece governor and ECB Governing Council member Nicholas Garganas said Monday 19 December.
ECBs Papademos calls for action on labour reform
Eurozone countries are at risk of inflation accelerating even as unemployment remains 'disappointingly high' because of labour market inflexibility, European Central Bank vice-president Lucas Papademos said.
Bank of Italy's Fazio resigns
Bank of Italy governor Antonio Fazio resigned on Monday 19 December, just days before reforms were set to be put in place to finally force him out. On Friday CentralBankNet reported that rumours Fazio would quit at the weekend were described as "nonsense…
GCC ratifies FX union criteria
GCC leaders have endorsed criteria for a European-style monetary union in the Gulf region and agreed to forge a common policy on negotiating trade agreements.
Keeping meeting secret cost RBA $300,000
The Reserve Bank of Australia spent $304,530 on lawyers to block a Freedom of Information request to release details of the central bank board's deliberations over interest rates.
Comment: Fazio steps down
Antonio Fazio's resignation as Bank of Italy governor is welcome, but long-overdue. The way is now open for the implementation of much-needed reforms, as the Bank seeks to regain its lost credibility.
Richmond Fed promotes officer
The Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond announced on Friday 9 December that Gregory Sierra would become assistant vice president, Banking Supervision and Regulation effective from 1 Jan 2006.
Juncker says Stark may not take ECB economist role
Jean-Claude Juncker has suggested that Jurgen Stark might not inherit Otmar Issing's role as Chief Economist at the ECB if he is appointed to replace Issing.
Bundesbank official is pick for ECB
This article published Wednesday 14 December looks at the chances of Jurgen Stark replacing Otmar Issing at the European Central Bank. The choice of Stark would bring to the bank someone who was intimately involved with the introduction of the euro in…
Interview with ECB's Trichet
In comments published Thursday 15 December, European Central Bank president Jean-Claude Trichet said there is an essential difference between the ECB's Governing Council and well-respected figures, such as Jean-Claude Juncker and Thierry Breton, who have…
Interview with ECB's Bini Smaghi
Speaking recently, Lorenzo Bini Smaghi, member of the Executive Board of the European Central Bank, said that the US Federal Reserve is better than the ECB is "a bit like saying that Alonso is better than Schumacher. It depends on the car. The US economy…
Philadelphia Fed names bank supervision advisor
The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia has named H. Robert Tillman special advisor to the Supervision, Regulation and Credit Department.
Richmond Fed appoints deputy general counsel
The Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond announced on Wednesday 14 December that Patricia A. Lacey Nunley would be appointed to the position of deputy general counsel, with responsibility for the Legal department, effective from 1 Jan.
Macfarlane defends RBA appointments
Reserve Bank of Australia governor Ian Macfarlane has defended the process used to appoint the central bank's board members following the resignation of Robert Gerard.
CBG to get two new deputy governors
Churchill Baldeh, the Majority Leader of the National Assembly, told the Daily Observer that two new deputy governors will be appointed for the Central Bank of The Gambia.