Central Banking
Slovakia joins ERM-II
Slovakia has joined the Exchange Rate Mechanism 2 (ERM-II), the Hospodarske noviny daily wrote.
Russia says gold policy will change slowly
Russian central bank chairman Sergei Ignatyev said Friday 25 November that any change in the weighting of gold in its reserves would come in years rather than months.
UK's Brown says India, China to attend G7 meeting
China, India, Brazil and South Africa will attend part of the G7 finance ministers meeting this week, British finance minister Gordon Brown said on Monday 28 November.
Comment: Fierce criticism of the ECB
The European Central Bank's recent indication of its intent to raise interest rates has prompted a wave of fierce press criticism, and not only from within the eurozone.
The Bernanke Files
Since the White House announcement on 24 October, the Financial Markets Center has published a detailed package of four pieces on Ben Bernanke's nomination as Federal Reserve Chairman.
Richmond Fed directors re-appoint FAC member
G. Kennedy Thompson - chairman, president and CEO, Wachovia Corp., Charlotte, N.C. - was re-appointed on 18 November as the Fifth Federal Reserve District's representative on the Federal Advisory Council for 2006.
Uncertainty over second term for Serdengecti
Turkish economists are asking whether the government will give central bank governor Sureyya Serdengecti a second five-year term to avoid any turmoil in financial markets.
BoE's Barker on economic stability
In the speech 'Economic stability and the business climate' given on 24 November Kate Barker of the Bank of England said risks to the nation's economic growth are to the downside but the recent rise in inflation could still push up price expectations in…
Canada's Duguay on economic & financial storms
In the speech 'Weathering economic and financial storms' given on 24 November Pierre Duguay of the Bank of Canada discusses how the Bank of Canada works with its public- and private-sector partners to strengthen the Canadian financial system and to make…
Bernanke for Asia? Mundell seems to think so
According to this article published on Thursday 24 Novemver, even before Ben Bernanke is confirmed as the next chairman of the Fed, a Nobel-winning economist has come up with a plan that seeks to make Alan Greenspan's successor the monetary boss of Asia…
Germany supports former Polish PM as OECD chief
Outgoing German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said recently that both he and designated chancellor Angelor Merkel supported former Polish Prime Minister Marek Belka as the new chief of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.
Lessons from Italian monetary unification
This Working Paper, published November 2005, examines whether the states brought together in the Italian monetary union of the nineteenth century constituted an optimum monetary area, either before or after unification.
Fed nominee's life rooted in numbers
The background and upbringing of Federal Reserve nominee Ben Bernanke is detailed in depth in this article published this week. From his counting ability at aged 3, to his decision to study economics rather than majoring in English at Harvard. While…
Interview with ECB's Quaden
In an interview published on Tuesday 22 November, European Central Bank Governing Council member Guy Quaden said the ECB needs to tackle the problem of negative real interest rates in Europe, but this does not mean slamming the brakes on growth.
Interview with Richmond Fed's Lacker
In an interview published this week, Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond President Jeffrey Lacker said that as far as he is concerned it is clear "we're not done removing accommodation," suggesting US interest rates have further to rise.
Interview with ECB's Trichet
In an interview published on Thursday 24 November, European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet said he doesn't foresee "repeated" rises in eurozone interest rates.
Plenderleith to retire from SARB
South African Reserve Bank deputy governor Ian Plenderleith will retire at the end of his three-year contract on 31 December 2005, an SARB spokesperson was quoted as saying this week.
The Bank of Canada: An Illustrated History
The Bank of Canada published a book commemorating its 70th anniversary on Wednesday. The Bank of Canada: An Illustrated History is filled with interesting images and anecdotes about the Bank and its place in Canadian society from 1935 until now.
President 'Arrovo' blunder prompts banknote recall
The Philippines central bank suffered embarrassment this week when it was noticed that 100 peso (US$1.80) bank notes had been issued with the surname of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo spelled "Arrovo," with a "v."
Bank of England's Lomax: 'dollar looks a good buy'
Bank of England deputy governor Rachel Lomax said on Thursday 24 November that the "dollar looks a good buy" because of interest rate differentials and other factors.
EU's Almunia sees gradual rise in euro area demand
European Monetary Affairs Commissioner Joaquin Almunia said on Thursday 24 November he expects a gradual rise in domestic demand to boost recovery in the European Union economy next year.
BoJ should not decide policy shift alone- Takenaka
The Bank of Japan alone should not decide on the timing of an end to its super-loose monetary policy, Kyodo News quoted Heizo Takenaka, Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications as saying.
EU Competition Commissioner backs Italy action
The EU competition commissioner said Friday 25 November that she would support plans to take legal action against the Bank of Italy.
Germany facing confidence crisis says Buba's Stark
Germany faces a crisis of confidence and its public finances are out of control, leading German central banker Juergen Stark said on Thursday 24 November.