Central Banking
Trichet on euro statistics & their use at the ECB
In a speech on 'Euro area statistics and their use for ECB policy-making' given on 23 April, Jean-Claude Trichet of the ECB said the ECB attaches great importance to timely and reliable euro area statistics as a basis for policy-making. Statistics are…
Chicago Fed National Activity Index, March 2004
The Chicago Fed National Activity Index (CFNAI) March 2004 was published on 22 April. The CFNAI decreased somewhat from February to March, but remained above zero for the seventh month in a row.
Canada's Dodge on financial services research
In a speech on 'Research in Financial Services and Public Policy-Filling the Gaps' given on 22 April, David Dodge of the Bank of Canada said Canada's economic health depends on a strong financial services sector. There are many research topics that are…
SADC central bank governors to meet in Botswana
Thirteen Southern African Development Community (SADC) central bank governors are expected in Gaborone, Botswana on Friday 30 April to attend the biannual meeting of the committee of Central Bank Governors.
Basel II talks over by end June - Caruana
Financial regulators expect to end talks to redraft global banking regulations, known as Basel II, by the end of June, Jaime Caruana, head of the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, was quoted as saying on Tuesday 27 April.
BoE's Bell hints at need for higher rates
A member of the Bank of England's nine-strong Monetary Policy Committee thinks interest rates need to rise, according to an interview. Continued above trend growth, she said, would likely impact on prices.
China must be careful over forex rate- Premier Wen
China must be careful before changing its fixed exchange rate because any rash change could mean trouble for the economy and that of the rest of the world, Premier Wen Jiabao said in an interview on Wednesday 28 April.
Japan lifts growth forecast
The Bank of Japan said on Wednesday 28 April that it expects the country's economy to expand at an even greater rate than it forecast six months ago, but repeated that mild deflation will continue in the current fiscal year.
Cleveland Fed's Pianalto on monetary policy
In a speech on 'A perspective on monetary policy' given on 22 April, Sandra Pianalto of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland said central banks can be more effective when they act as systematically and transparently as they can. Systematic and…
Canada's Dodge on growth policies in the Americas
In a speech on 'Economic and Financial Policies for Growth in the Americas: A Canadian Perspective' given on 19 April, David Dodge of the Bank of Canada said more open trade, appropriate structural policies, and sound macroeconomic policies all have an…
US unveils $50 note with enhanced security
US government officials from the Department of the Treasury, the Federal Reserve and the United States Secret Service, on Monday 26 April unveiled the new $50 note design with enhanced security features, and subtle background colours of blue and red, and…
Chicago Fed's Moskow on the US economic outlook
In a speech on 'US economic outlook' given on 23 April, Michael Moskow of the Chicago Fed said the outlook for growth in 2004 is encouraging. A year ago, we were worried about unwelcome disinflation; that concern has now subsided.
Trichet testimony: ECB prepared for enlargement
In testimony before the European Parliament on the presentation of the ECB's Annual Report 2003 given on 27 April, Jean-Claude Trichet of the ECB said the ECB and the ESCB are well prepared both for EU enlargement itself and for the challenges that the…
European Central Bank - Annual Report 2003
The European Central Bank has published its Annual Report for the year ended 2003.
Euro's reserve growing, ECB's Issing says
The euro's growing role as a global reserve currency is "unavoidable", the European Central Bank's chief economist Otmar Issing said Monday 26 April.
Deficits remain obstacle for new EU members
The greatest hurdle preventing the EU accession countries from joining the euro quickly is the state of their public finances, European Central Bank executive board member Tommaso Padoa-Schioppa said in a newspaper interview.
PBOC's Zhou: no G7 pressure for forex shift
Finance ministers of the Group of Seven did not show impatience with China's fixed exchange rate, Zhou Xiaochuan, governor of the People's Bank of China, said in an interview.
Iraq aims to increase foreign bank entry
Iraq's central bank governor said on Monday 26 April that he is recommending removing limits to the number of foreign banks that can operate in Iraq.
Preparing for cross-border bank failures
Increasingly, small countries will not supervise their systemically importantbanks. They will still have to pick up the pieces in a crisis though. ProfessorDavid Mayes, special adviser to the Bank of Finland, examines how they canrespond.
Central Bank of Luxembourg - Annual Report 2003
The Central Bank of Luxembourg has published its Annual Report for the year ended 2003.
Sweden's Heikensten on European banking
In a speech on 'The Integration of European Banking: Some Regulatory Challenges' given on 21 April, Lars Heikensten of the Sveriges Riksbank said in order to gain the full benefits of financial integration, we must build a regulatory framework which…
Fed's Bies on the economic outlook
In a speech on 'The Economic Outlook and Financial Health of Bank Customers' given on 22 April, Susan Bies of the Federal Reserve said recent indicators suggest that the pace of economic activity remains solid, while inflationary pressures continue to be…
Trichet on European Priorities: an ECB perspective
In a speech on 'European Priorities: an ECB perspective' given on 23 April, Jean-Claude Trichet of the ECB said that the ECB, its Governing Council, and the full body of the Eurosystem are doing all what they can for Europe to cope with its present…
Fed's Olson on the redesigned 2004 US $50 note
In a speech on 'Preview of the Redesigned Series 2004 U.S. $50 Note' given on 26 April, Mark Olson of the Federal Reserve said this $50 note is beautifully designed and includes important anti-counterfeiting features.