Central Banking
Interview with ECB president Jean-Claude Trichet
In an interview published on Wednesday 21 September, European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet called for determined economic reforms from the next German government as well as other European nations.
Paraguay's banking regulator chief resigns
Paraguay's banking regulator Rodrigo Ortiz has resigned from his post, a central bank source confirmed, according to Bnamericas. Ortiz had been head of the banking regulatory agency since 2003.
No rest for RBA governor in final year
According to this article published on Thursday 22 September, Reserve Bank of Australia governor Ian Macfarlane has one last tricky year to negotiate before bowing out as arguably the country's most successful central bank chief.
St Louis Fed names new first vice president
David A. Sapenaro, 42, has been named first vice president and chief operating officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
No formula for selecting Fed chair
With the US Senate having to confirm a new chair of the Federal Reserve's Board of Governors soon, this article published on Tuesday 20 September asks what is more important to formulating successful monetary policies, profound study of economics or…
Central Bank of Iceland appoints new chairman
The Central Bank of Iceland has appointed Davi Oddsson governor and chairman of the Board of Governors. The move followed Birgir sleifur Gunnarsson's decision to retire.
Phil Fed's Santomero on the evolution of payments
In the speech 'The evolution of payments in the US: Paper vs. electronic' given on 10 September Anthony Santomero of the Philadelphia Fed said credit and debit cards are rapidly replacing paper checks as the most popular means of payment in the United…
Chicago Fed National Activity Index, August 2005
The Chicago Fed National Activity Index for August 2005 was +0.10 down from +0.28 in July. Three of the four broad categories of indicators that make up the index - employment, consumption and housing, and sales, orders, and inventories - made positive…
Canada's Dodge on financial system efficiency
In the speech 'Financial system efficiency: Getting the regulatory framework right' given on 22 September David Dodge of the Bank of Canada said that the inflation rate can be expected to rise in coming months, thanks largely to high energy costs, which…
Fed's Olson on regulatory relief
In testimony 'Regulatory relief' given on 22 September Mark Olson of the Federal Reserve said federal regulators see no evidence of significant funding difficulties or problems with balance sheet management at banks in areas affected by Hurricane Katrina.
China's bonding experience gains some speed
This article published on Monday 19 September asks whether China, Asia's No.2 economy, can reach its potential without a bond market. The good news is that efforts to create one are gaining momentum, it says.
Fed to publish Bulletin online
The Federal Reserve Board announced on Thursday 22 September that beginning in 2006, the content of the Federal Reserve Bulletin will be published on the Board's public website (www.federalreserve.gov) on a continuing basis, as it becomes available.
IMF says oil prices pose threat to world economy
High oil prices are threatening continued global expansion, the top official of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) told a press conference on Thursday 22 September.
IMF endorses adjustment to (AML/CFT) program
The IMF said on Thursday 22 September that it has endorsed an adjustment of the IMF's anti-money laundering/combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) program to focus more on tackling the challenges faced by countries implementing standards and…
Oil set to be main topic for G7 meeting
Japan's finance minister said Friday's G7 meeting of top finance ministers and central bankers would discuss soaring oil prices as the main topic and talks on China's currency reform may be low-keyed for now.
Hungary central bank row could trigger sell-off
Souring relations between the Hungarian government and the country's central bank could unnerve investors and trigger some sell-off in Hungarian assets such as bonds and stocks, according to a report issued by Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein cited by MTI…
Comment: Persaud on Asian reserve diversification
The real problem with global imbalances is neither Asian manipulation of exchange rates nor an Asian savings "glut" which only American consumption can offset, said Avinash Persaud, presenting the latest CEPR report.
UK completes world's first 50 year indexed bond
The UK completed the syndication of its first fifty-year inflation linked bond on Friday 23 September, achieving a price and coverage which demonstrated the strong demand for long-dated bonds, and investors' enthusiasm for inflation protection at this…
Gulf central banks plan single currency reserve
Gulf central banks are creating a reserve to support the single currency that is on track to be launched by 2010, the UAE Central Bank governor has said.
Venezuela central bank transfers US$3bn
Venezuela's central bank has transferred US$3 billion of its foreign exchange reserves to a newly created fund to support public projects, the finance minister said Friday 23 September.
Is fiscal policy inflationary? Just ask the Fed
This article published on Wednesday 21 September asks whether US fiscal policy is about to upend the bond market? Market participants may well associate bad news on the economy with an increase in fiscal spending and lower bond prices, it says.
IMF World Economic Outlook, September 2005
The IMF published its World Economic Outlook September 2005 on Wednesday 21 September. In the report the Fund said Hurricane Katrina's reach is global, as higher energy prices cast a cloud of uncertainty over a world economy that is otherwise on track…
Statement by Roger Ferguson on the IMFC meeting
The Financial Stability Forum (FSF) held its fourteenth meeting on 8-9 September 2005 in London. The issues discussed included: risks and vulnerabilities in the international financial system; the resilience of the financial system to shocks and lessons…
The political economy of seigniorage
While most economists agree that seigniorage is one way governments finance deficits, there is less agreement about the political, institutional, and economic reasons for relying on it, according to the IMF Working Paper published Tuesday.