Central Banking
Net loss widens for ECB on euro
The European Central Bank published its annual accounts for 2004 on Monday 14 March, saying that its net loss more than tripled last year as the falling dollar lowered the value of the bank's foreign-currency holdings.
Commission says 'not sure' on euro rule reform
The EU's economics and monetary affairs commissioner Joaquin Almunia has said he is "not sure" an agreement can be reached on reforming the rules underpinning the euro- the Stability and Growth Pact.
No sign of Asian central bank dollar shift- Taylor
Concerns that Asian central banks are looking to reduce their dollar-denominated reserves are misplaced, U.S. Treasury Undersecretary for International Affairs John Taylor told Dow Jones in an interview published on Friday 11 March.
Bank of France cuts growth forecast
The Bank of France has lowered its first quarter growth forecast for the French economy by 0.1 points to 0.4%.
Zhou Xiaochuan appointed Chairman of the BIS ACC
The Board of Directors of the Bank for International Settlements announced on Monday 7 March that Zhou Xiaochuan, Governor of The People's Bank of China, will become Chairman of the BIS Asian Consultative Council (ACC).
BIS appoints Gunter Pleines to head Banking Dep't
The Board of Directors of the Bank for International Settlements announced the appointment of Gunter Pleines as Head of its Banking Department on Monday 7 March. His appointment takes effect on 1 April 2005 and is for a five-year term.
Phil Fed's Santomero on post-Greenspan era
In an interview published this week, Anthony Santomero of the Philadelphia Fed told Handelsblatt he does not fear any trouble in the financial markets when Alan Greenspan leaves office at the beginning of 2006. "It is understandable that the markets ask …
China fires PBOC official for gambling
The People's Bank of China has sacked the head of a local branch in northeast China's Jilin province for gambling, China News Service reported, without citing sources.
South Korean finance minister resigns
South Korea's finance minister resigned on Monday 7 March over media allegations about his involvement in lucrative real estate deals.
Rock star Bono could be World Bank president
The latest rumour on the World Bank job has U2 rock star Bono lined up for the role. US Treasury Secretary John Snow described him this week as a kind of "rock star of the development world".
Former central banker named Portugal's fin min
Portugal's Prime Minister-elect Jose Socrates named Luis Campos e Cunha, a former central bank deputy governor to the post of finance minister this week.
Richmond Fed names new Director of Research
John A. Weinberg was named director of research and senior vice president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond on Thursday 10 March.
Fed's Bernanke on the global saving glut
In a speech on 'The global saving glut and the U.S. current account deficit' given on 10 March, Ben Bernanke of the Federal Reserve said a global savings glut has pushed up the U.S. current account gap and pushed down long-term interest rates.
Fed's Greenspan on globalization
In a speech on 'Globalization' given on 10 March, Alan Greenspan of the Federal Reserve said that future budget deficits pose a bigger risk to the economy than record trade imbalances and the country's extremely low savings rate.
ECB's Trichet on European financial integration
In a speech on 'European financial integration: the view of the ECB' given on 10 March, Jean-Claude Trichet of the ECB said the ECB attaches the utmost importance to progress in European financial integration.
NY Fed's Economic Policy Review prize article
The Editorial Board of the New York Fed's Economic Policy Review has announced the first winner of the Frederic S. Mishkin Prize for Outstanding Paper: "Treasury inflation-indexed debt: A review of the U.S. experience," by Brian Sack and Robert Elsasser.
Philippines' Tetangco on the future of the peso
In an interview published this week, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Deputy Governor Amando Tetangco said looking at the fundamentals and technical signs, the peso is poised for further appreciation. Tetangco was recently named as the replacement for…
Zimbabwe's Gono on unorthodox challenges
In an interview published on Thursday March 10, Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor Dr Gideon Gono said the country is going through a turnaround that demands unorthodox ways of dealing with unorthodox challenges. The job is not one of making friends with…
Election to Danmarks Nationalbank's Board
Denmark's Folketinget (Parliament) has elected Mr Svend Erik Hovmand to the Board of Directors of Danmarks Nationalbank until 31 March 2006.
Bini Smaghi formally proposed to ECB board
Eurozone finance ministers on Tuesday 8 March formally proposed Lorenzo Bini Smaghi, a senior Italian economics official, as the next member of the European Central Bank's executive board.
Fed's Greenspan on bank regulation
In a speech on 'Bank regulation' given on 11 March, Alan Greenspan of the Federal Reserve acknowledged that a new global pact on banking may hurt some business lines at small U.S. banks, but said regulators may look at tweaking capital rules to ease this.
Issing: ECB will act on money supply if necessary
European Central Bank chief economist Otmar Issing said in an interview that high liquidity in the eurozone has not yet proved a sufficient reason for the ECB to raise interest rates, but it will act if money supply growth starts to fuel inflation.
Report says share of China's dollar reserves fell
Investment bank Lehman Brothers said in a report this week that China reduced the share of its foreign reserves held in US dollar assets last year.
EU's Almunia says Slovakia on track to adopt euro
EU Monetary Affairs Commissioner Joaquin Almunia said Thursday on a one-day visit to Slovakia that it was on target to meet its aim of adopting the euro single currency in 2009.