Central Banking
RBI readies for a 'Reddy Era'
This article published Friday 5 August takes an in depth look at Reserve Bank of India governor Yaga Venugopal Reddy. Reddy always speaks his mind, it says, and favours a "consensus" approach to policy issues. He can master any subject and is a voracious…
Italy favours fixed term for central bank chief
According to Italy's economy undersecretary Maria Teresa Armosino the government is ready to set a fixed term of office for the Bank of Italy governor, rather than the life term that currently applies.
Bank of Italy under siege
The trials and tribulations of Antonio Fazio, governor of the Bank of Italy, have raised many disturbing questions regarding the governance of Italy's central bank and of its regulatory system. This is a very sad business. This is the first of a new…
IMF statement on G-8 proposal for debt relief
Rodrigo de Rato, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, issued a statement after Wednesday's meeting to discuss the proposal for HIPC debt cancellation agreed by the G-8 Summit on 8 July.
HKMA's Pang on the Retail Bond Issue
In a speech given on 18 July Peter Pang of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority said the upcoming Retail Bond issue has both Hong Kong Dollar and US Dollar denominated notes. This is the first time that the HKMC issues US Dollar notes.
ECB 'Blue Book' on payment and settlement systems
The European Central Bank published the latest addendum to the June 2001 report entitled "Payment and securities settlement systems in the European Union" (third edition) on Tuesday.
National Bank of Macedonia - Annual Report 2004
The National Bank of Macedonia has published its Annual Report for the year ended 2004. In the next period, banking supervision will be focused on the promotion of the supervisory regulations, with a view to its full compliance with the Basel banking…
Bank of England reduces rates by 0.25%
The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee voted on Thursday 4 August to reduce the Bank's repo rate by 0.25 percentage points to 4.5%.
Bank Negara Malaysia - Annual Report 2004
The Central Bank of Malaysia has published its Annual Report for the year ended 2004. The Malaysian economy experienced its most rapid growth in four years, expanding by 7.1% in 2004 as a result of robust growth in both global trade and domestic demand,…
ECB rates on hold a while longer says Stark
The ECB's decision not to change rates at its meeting on Thursday 4 August was foreshadowed in a newspaper interview with Bundesbank Vice President Juergen Stark who said muted price pressures allow rates to remain on hold for a while longer.
PBOC: China will adjust yuan band at 'proper time'
China will carry out further adjustments to the yuan's trading band only at the 'proper time', the People's Bank of China said on Thursday 4 August in its first monetary policy report since the recent announcement of currency reforms.
IMF says ECB should be ready to cut rates
The International Monetary Fund published a report on Wednesday 3 August urging the European Central Bank to stand ready to cut interest rates.
Malaysia's Zeti on Islamic finance
In the speech 'Fostering leadership role in Islamic finance' given on 19 July, Zeti Akhtar Aziz of the Central Bank of Malaysia said with the experience that has been built up in Islamic banking and finance over the years, it is timely and desirable to…
Nat Bank of Kyrgyz Republic - Annual Report 2004
The National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic has published its Annual Report for the year ended 2004. Economic growth, the low inflation rate, growth of investment in the real sector, and the strengthening of the banking system were significant results in…
Monetary Authority of Macao - Annual Report 2004
The Monetary Authority of Macao has published its Annual Report for the year ended 2004. During the five years since the return of sovereignty Macao has adopted a series of effective measures for economic reform and stimulating economic growth, the…
Central Bank of Ireland, Quarterly Bulletin 3/2005
Ireland's central bank published its Third Quarterly Bulletin for 2005 on Thursday 28 July. In the latest Bulletin the central bank said that the prospects for the domestic economy remain broadly positive.
Basel Committee corporate governance practices
The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision has issued for public comment revised guidance to help promote the adoption of sound corporate governance practices by banking organisations.
Pressure on Asia to shift reserves
Asian central banks may have to shift up to $500 billion in reserves from dollars to euros and yen or risk foregoing $28 billion a year in potential revenue, according to a report published by Goldman Sachs Group.
BSP official sees economy recovering
The chief investor relations officer of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the Philippine central bank, said in an interview that the economy is slowly regaining the growth momentum that was disrupted by the political crisis in the past two months.
Costello says RBA decision reflects solid growth
Treasurer Peter Costello said the Reserve Bank of Australia's decision to leave interest rates at 5.5 per cent after its monthly board meeting on Wednesday 3 August reflects continuing solid economic growth in the country.
BOJ current-account balance may fall below target
The balance of current accounts at the Bank of Japan is expected to drop below the 30-35 trln yen liquidity target today, to around 28.3 trln yen, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported on Wednesday 3 August, citing an unnamed source at the central bank.
Bank of England set to cut interest rates
The Bank of England is widely expected to reduce UK interest rates when it concludes its 100th Monetary Policy Committee meeting on Thursday 4 August.
ECB paper on large-value payment systems
The ECB Working Paper "Incorporating a 'public good factor' into the pricing of large-value payment systems" considers optimal pricing rules for a public large-value payment system (LVPS) that produces a public good (like prevention of systemic risk) but…
Malaysia's Zeti on the Asian Bond Fund
In the speech 'Launch of the Asian Bond Fund (ABF) Malaysia Bond Index Fund' given on 18 July, Zeti Akhtar Aziz of the Central Bank of Malaysia said the launch of the ABF Malaysian Bond Index Fund today marks another important milestone resulting from…