Central Banking
Bank of Canada, Business Outlook Survey, Autumn 04
The Bank of Canada's Autumn 2004 Business Outlook Survey reports that businesses remain essentially as optimistic about the economic outlook as they were in the summer survey. Although they have marked down their growth forecast for the US economy,…
Fed's Bies on factors in risk management
In the speech 'It's not just about the models: Recognizing the importance of qualitative factors in an effective risk-management process' given on 7 December, Susan Bies of the Federal Reserve said mathematical investment models are not enough on their…
Tanenaka says view of Japan's economy not changed
After the Japanese government revised the country's third-quarter gross domestic product, Economic and Fiscal Policy Minister Heizo Takenaka said Japan hasn't changed its view that the economy is recovering.
ECB's Issing reassures on eurozone growth
The European Central Bank's chief economist Otmar Issing insisted in an interview published on Wednesday 8 December, that Eurozone growth would recover from its current lull next year.
CBR's Ignatyev says gold/ fx reserves may change
Changes in the structure of gold and foreign exchange reserves are possible, Russian central bank Chairman Sergei Ignatyev said in the State Duma.
Mboweni prefers 'competitively' priced ex rate
Addressing the annual dinner in honour of the ambassadors and high commissioners to South Africa, Tito Mboweni said: "We neither prefer a weak rand nor an overvalued exchange rate. We prefer a competitively priced exchange rate."
Korea's financial watchdog to get Beijing office
South Korea's top financial watchdog will open an office in Beijing by January next year, the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) said on Wednesday 8 December.
State Street on the dollar
John Nugee of State Street Global Advisors, formerly of the Bank of England, has today released an analysis of the dollar problem. The paper argues that the main effect of the dollar weakness on central banks' willingness to hold dollars may be felt not…
ECB's Tumpel-Gugerell on global exchange rates
In a speech on 'Exchange rate moves in a global economy: a central banking perspective' given on 3 December, Gertrude Tumpel-Gugerell of the ECB said policies aimed at fostering macroeconomic stability should frame discussions between countries, and this…
China's Xiaochuan on gold market & risk hedging
In a speech on 'Gold market functions to hedge against risks' given on 6 September , Zhou Xiaochuan of the People's Bank of China said we see as central bankers, that a developed gold market can help to complement the monetary policy instruments and…
BIS Quarterly Review, December 2004
Improved macroeconomic data and the stabilisation of oil prices encouraged investors to become more optimistic about the strength of the global economy, the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) said in its Quarterly Review, December 2004.
Denmark's Andersen on financial markets
In a speech given on 1 December, Bodil Nyboe Andersen of the Danmarks Nationalbank said that Denmark is now harvesting the fruits of more than 20 years' stability-oriented economic policy during which major structural reforms have been implemented.
Bank of Canada leaves interest rates unchanged
The Bank of Canada announced on Tuesday 7 December that it is maintaining its target for the overnight rate at 2 1/2 per cent. The operating band for the overnight rate is unchanged, and the Bank Rate remains at 2 3/4 per cent.
Korea's deputy PM calls for rate cut
Korea's Deputy Prime Minister for Finance and Economy Lee Hun-jai is reported to have urged the Bank of Korea to cut interest rates two days before the central bank is due to meet.
PBOC's Zhou says rigid ex rates pose 'huge risks'
Governor Zhou Xiaochuan of the People's Bank of China said the country's currency peg is a hazard for banks and companies, according to a published report.
BOJ's Iwata sees strong business investment in 05
Kazumasa Iwata, one of the Bank of Japan's two deputy governors, told a conference in Sydney that business investment in Japan was strong and will increase next year.
ECB and finance cheifs issue euro warning
The head of the central bank, Jean-Claude Trichet, joined the chairman of the 12 Eurozone finance ministers at a news conference to reinforce the message of a written statement.
Bundesbank lowers German growth forecast
The Bundesbank has revised downwards its forecast for growth of the German economy next year to 1.2-1.3% from an earlier prognosis of 1.5% strength of the euro hits exports from the eurozone's largest economy.
Implementing Basel II in Europe
In Europe, the task of ensuring a smooth transition to the Basel II capital rules for banks falls on the new Committee of European Banking Supervisors (CEBS). Neil Courtis spoke to CEBS chairman, Jose Maria Roldan, for CentralBankNet.
CLS Bank live with four additional currencies
CLS Bank International announced on Monday 6 December that it will settle payment instructions in four new currencies for the first time this week. This brings to fifteen the number of currencies eligible to settle through CLS Bank.
ECB report 'The euro bond market study 2004'
The European Central Bank published a report entitled "The euro bond market study 2004" on 3 December. The report contains the results of an analysis of developments in the euro bond market since 2001.
Philadelphia Fed's Santomero on global economy
In a speech on 'Challenges and opportunities in a global economy: Perspectives on outsourcing, exchange rates, and free trade' given on 3 December. Anthony Santomero of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia said the US economy should grow about 4 per…
Sweden's Heikensten on inflation outlook
Sveriges Riksbank governor Lars Heikensten spoke at a meeting organised by Handelsbanken in Gothenburg on 30 November about the current economic situation and monetary policy. In the speech he said that over the past year the Riksbank has held a positive…
Trichet on the integration of the single market
In a speech on 'The integration of the single market for financial services: the Eurosystem perspective' given on 6 December, Jean-Claude Trichet of the European Central Bank said the ECB will start publishing a report on the stability of the eurozone…