Central Banking
Bundesbank statement on EC proposals
Responding on Tuesday 7 September to the European Commission's proposals for reform of the Stability and Growth Pact, the Bundesbank said it believed that instead of strengthening the Pact, the proposed changes would have a "generally detrimental" effect…
Reform of card payment systems in Australia
Following a decision by the Payments System Board, the Reserve Bank of Australia on Thursday 9 September designated the EFTPOS debit card payment system in Australia as a payment system under the Payment Systems (Regulation) Act 1998.
ECB Monthly Bulletin, September 2004
The European Central Bank published its September 2004 Monthly Bulletin on Thursday 9 September, saying that "strong vigilance" is needed to ensure that inflation slows below 2 percent next year as an economic recovery in the eurozone strengthens and oil…
Is India meddling with central bank's autonomy?
India's Trade minister has recently said "We don't want interest rates to harden". This article questions the effect of such "official" comments on the RBI's autonomy and says there's now the risk of monetary policy becoming a political football in India.
Japan reports economy improving
Japan's economic recovery is "solid" but export growth is losing some steam, the government said in a monthly report released on Thursday 9 September. The Bank of Japan also released its latest monthly report Thursday which said the economy is on the…
Korean banknote redenomination 'not urgent'
Bank of Korea Governor Park Seung said on Thursday 9 September that changing the denominations or issuing higher-value banknotes is not an urgent issue. Currently, the largest denomination is a 10,000 won note, which is worth less than $10.
Slovenia targets inflation to adopt euro in 2007
Slovenia hopes to reduce annual inflation in 2005 to less than three per cent, clearing the way for the former Yugoslav state to enter the eurozone by the beginning of 2007, central bank governor Mitja Gaspari told a meeting of business leaders.
Kyrgyzstan and Russia sign cooperation agreement
The National Bank of Kyrgyzstan and Central Banks of Russia have signed a cooperation agreement with the intention to establish dialogue on issues of banking regulation, and exchange information on the condition and development of the banking sector.
ECOWAS changes launch date for Eco
The governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Professor Charles Soludo, said on Wednesday 8 September that the launch date of ECO, the proposed West African common currency, would be extended beyond 1 July, 2005.
Phil Fed's Survey of Professional Forecasters
The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia has published its Third Quarter 2004 Survey of Professional Forecasters. Growth over the second half of the year looks a bit slower now than it did three months ago, according to participants in the Survey. The…
St Louis Fed's Central Banker, Fall 2004
The Fall 2004 edition of the St. Louis Fed's Central Banker magazine has been published. The latest issue includes articles "Federal Reserve To Close More Check Processing Sites" and "Federal Reserve Takes a Lead Role in Supporting Check 21" which…
Brazil's Cavalheiro on regulation of capital
In a speech on 'Regulation of capital and financial stability' given on 12 July, Paulo Sergio Cavalheiro of the Central Bank of Brazil said the New Accord will be most likely implemented in Brazil in a gradual manner, the new rules co-existing for a…
Sweden's Nyberg on universal banking
In a speech on 'How do conflicts of interest in universal banking emerge and what are the arguments for a separation of commercial and investment banking?' given on 26 August, Lars Nyberg of the Sveriges Riksbank said he believed that the supervisory…
Bank of Canada raises interest rates 0.25%
The Bank of Canada announced on Wednesday 8 September that it would raise its key overnight interest rate by one-quarter of a percentage point to 2.25 per cent, a move widely expected by financial markets. In a press release the bank said with the…
Greenspan says US economy regaining some traction
In testimony to the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday 8 September, Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan said the economy has "regained some traction" following a late spring slowdown that was instigated by a sharp rise in oil prices.
Regulatory agencies warn on internet 'phishing'
The Federal bank, thrift and credit union agencies on Wednesday 8 September announced the publication of a brochure with information to help consumers identify and combat a new type of Internet scam known as "phishing."
Dallas Fed's McTeer confident on US economy
The dip in the U.S. economy in the second quarter was due largely to higher oil prices and the country has now moved on, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas President Robert McTeer said on Tuesday 7 September.
NZ's Cullen apologises for interest rate 'slip'
Finance Minister Michael Cullen has apologised after saying that the Reserve Bank of New Zealand had raised its key interest rate "today" - the RBNZ is due to meet on Thursday 9 September to decide monetary policy.
PBOC's Zhou says rates on hold for now
The People's Bank of China will not consider changing the interest rates until August's statistics are released, according to PBOC Governor Zhou Xiaochuan.
Minutes from the Sveriges Riksbank Meeting, 19 Aug
Minutes of the Sveriges Riksbank Executive Board meeting on 19 August were published 2 September. One member observed that economic activity in Sweden had strengthened slightly more than expected during the first six months of the year, and that the…
Tumpel-Gugerell on the Single Euro Payments Area
In the speech 'Time to act: clear objectives and a convincing roadmap for the Single Euro Payments Area' given on 6 September, Gertrude Tumpel-Gugerell of the ECB said to achieve the Single Euro Payments Area, it's best for the European Payments Council…
Norway's Gjedrem on monetary policy and the krone
In a speech on 'Monetary policy and the krone exchange rate' given on 26 Augus,t Svein Gjedrem of Norges Bank said growth in the Norwegian economy is projected to pick up markedly this year and remain relatively high next year.
Malaysia's Zeti on Islamic banking & finance
In a speech on 'Current issues and developments in Islamic banking and finance' given on 25 August, Zeti Akhtar Aziz of the Central Bank of Malaysia said that to harness the full potential of the Islamic financial system, genuine endeavours to strengthen…
Almunia not expecting ECB objection to Pact change
EU economic and monetary affairs commissioner Joaquin Almunia has said the European Central Bank is not expected to oppose possible changes to the stability and growth pact.