Central Banking
ZABG illegally acquired bank assets
The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe's economic turnaround strategy was dealt a severe blow recently when a Supreme Court ruling found that its "Zimbabwe Allied Banking Group" (ZABG) had illegally acquired assets from collapsed commercial banks.
ECB's Tumpel-Gugerell on euro payments area
European Central Bank executive board member Gertrude Tumpel-Gugerell said foreign banks will take the leading role in restructuring the European banking sector if domestic banks move too slowly to create a single eurozone payments area.
Wrong time to cut funds target says BOJ's Nakahara
Bank of Japan policy board member Shin Nakahara said in a speech on Monday 3 October that it would be inappropriate to lower the BOJ's funds target now, and that the threshold for ending its superloose policy framework was not low.
BOJ's Fukui sees 'fully sustainable' recovery
Bank of Japan Governor Toshihiko Fukui said on Monday 3 October that Japan's economic recovery seems "fully sustainable," though it is very subdued.
Chavez says foreign reserves shifted to Europe
Venezuela has moved its central bank foreign reserves out of US banks, liquidated its investments in US Treasury securities and placed the funds in Europe, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said on Friday 30 September.
US payment system working well says Fed's Stern
The US payments system appears to be working well and there is no need for the Fed to significantly alter its role, Minneapolis Federal Reserve President Gary Stern said on Thursday 29 September.
Comment: IMF under fire again
Writing in the Financial Times yesterday eminent economist, Michael Mussa, who served as economic counsellor and director of the department of research at the International Monetary Fund from 1991-2001, joined the chorus of voices arguing that the Fund…
Central Bank of Swaziland Annual Report 2004-2005
The Central Bank of Swaziland has published its Annual Report for 2004-2005.
Sir John Gieve's Biography
John Gieve has been Permanent Secretary of the Home Office since April 2001. It is one of the biggest and most complex departments in government which is responsible for expenditure of some £20 billion a year and employs more than 70,000 people.
Fazio, humiliated, still fails to take the hint
The Economist magazine gave its opinion on the Fazio Affair in this article published on Monday 26 September. Mr Fazio's behaviour has wrecked the reputation of the central bank, hitherto one of the country's few internationally respected institutions,…
Greenspan farewell party set for December
Finance ministers and central bank presidents from the G7 nations have ensured Alan Greenspan's departure will not go unnoticed with a special session scheduled for December in London as a farewell party.
Former Bank of Japan executive director dies
Toshihiko Yoshino, a former Bank of Japan executive director and a noted economic critic, died of pneumonia at a Tokyo hospital on 12 August, the Asahi Shimbun and Nihon Keizai Shimbun newspapers reported this week. He was 90.
Fazio becomes butt of Tremonti's jokes
Antonio Fazio became the butt of jokes from new economy minister Giulio Tremonti recently, when he poked fun at Fazio and imitated his voice.
Statement by Lars Heikensten on his resignation
Following his decision to resign after being nominated by the Swedish Government as the Swedish member of the European Court of Auditors, Sveriges Riksbank governor Lars Heikensten made the following statement on Thursday 29 September.
Riksbank's General Council on Heikensten decision
The General Council will now together begin the work to find a successor for the position as Riksbank Governor, Chairman of the Riksbank's General Council Jan Bergqvist and Vice Chairman Johan Gernandt said in a joint statement Thursday.
Fed's Kohn on inflation modeling
In the speech 'Inflation modeling: A policymaker's perspective' given on 29 September Donald Kohn of the Federal Reserve said the low level of US inflation may reflect luck and structural economic change, not just good monetary policy.
Canada's Longworth on monetary policy
In the speech 'Monetary policy: One instrument, one target' given on 29 September David Longworth of the Bank of Canada said the Canadian economy will feel only a modest impact from hurricanes Katrina and Rita, but higher oil prices will result in a…
SF Fed's Yellen on US economy and monetary policy
In the speech 'The US economy and monetary policy' given on 27 September Janet Yellen of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco said the Fed must uphold its pledge to keep inflation subdued, suggesting US interest rates would continue to rise.
International Journal of Central Banking, Sep 05
The September 2005 issue of the International Journal of Central Banking has been published. The latest edition contains five article including 'Liquidity, risk taking, and the lender of last resort,' and 'Dollar shortages and crises'.
ECB's power over market inflation outlook queried
According to this article published on Friday 30 September, the European Central Bank may have less control over financial markets' inflation expectations than it thinks, despite its increased rhetoric about the importance of keeping them under control.
High time for a single GCC currency
This article published on Thursday 29 September notes that there has been a fair amount of scepticism towards the proposed Gulf single currency, and says that for the currency union to be effective, there will need to be a single independent central bank…
Banco de Mexico goes live with new software
OpenLink, a provider of trading and risk management software solutions, announced on Friday 30 September that Banco de Mexico, the second largest central bank in the Americas, has gone live with OpenLink's latest front-through-back- office, fully…
Santomero sees bounce back in US economy
Post-hurricane rebuilding will help the U.S. economy bounce back in 2006, Philadelphia Federal Reserve President Anthony Santomero said in comments published on Friday 30 September.
IMF's Deppler sees eurozone recovery on horizon
A top IMF official said on Friday 30 September that the potential economic growth rate for the eurozone should rise above 2% in the next few years, but high oil prices could delay the recovery.