Central Banking
Wim Duisenberg
This obituary for former European Central Bank president Wim Duisenberg, who died on Sunday 31 July, contrasts his rough ride at the ECB with the high reputation he had enjoyed among fellow central bankers during his tenure as governor of the…
Rwandan Fin Min named to African Development Bank
Rwandan Finance Minister, Mr Donald Kaberuka (54) has been elected President of the African Development Bank Group (ADB) during the extraordinary Meeting of ADB Governors held on 21-22 July 2005 in Tunis.
Progress toward regional integration in the WAEMU
The IMF Working Paper "Ten years after the CFA franc devaluation: Progress toward regional integration in the WAEMU" takes stock of the achievements toward integration in the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) 10 years after the 1994…
Fed's Gramlich to join University of Michigan
The University of Michigan has selected Professor Edward Gramlich to serve as interim provost and executive vice president for academic affairs, effective 1 September, with approval from the university's board of regents.
White House may be considering Lindsey for Fed
The White House is expanding its search for a successor for Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan, according to a report Thursday, including former Bush adviser Lawrence Lindsey among the candidates.
Where does Greenspan keep HIS money?
Financial disclose forms released by the Federal Reserve recently show that chairman Alan Greenspan plays it safe when it comes to his own investments.
South Africa cuts dollar buying in July
Data released by the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) on Friday 5 August showed that it had lowered its dollar purchases in July.
SARB's Mboweni at G20 seminar on economic growth
In a speech given on 3 August Tito Mboweni of the South African Reserve Bank said the Reserve Bank has been making an important contribution to macroeconomic stability, creating a stable framework for growth.
BOJ's Fukui on new trends in financial services
In the speech 'New trends in financial services: Creation of innovative retail services' given on 21 July (published 4 August), Toshihiko Fukui of the Bank of Japan said with the Japanese financial system is regaining its stability, the BOJ has taken a…
Trichet says ECB's 2% rate is appropriate
European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet defended the decision to maintain interest rates in the euro zone at 2% in a radio interview Friday 5 August describing them as "appropriate".
G20 seminar on economic growth begins
The central banks of South Africa, Mexico and China are co-hosting a seminar in Pretoria to find ways of sustaining economic growth, particularly for the developing world.
Shocks may pose threat to China, says Nobel winner
Edward Prescott, the Nobel 2004 economics prize laureate, told an economics conference in Singapore on Friday 5 August China's fast growth rate may mean the economy is vulnerable to external shocks.
Study says rupee almost pegged to dollar
A study presented to the Singapore Economic Review Conference on Friday 5 August suggests the Indian rupee is virtually pegged to the US dollar, despite the RBI saying it adopts a "managed float" for the currency.
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.