Central Banking
Venezuelan central bank suspends trading
Venezuela's central bank suspended its foreign exchange trading for a week starting Wednesday to try to keep the country's currency, the bolivar, from further plummeting in the fallout of a 52-day-old strike that has crippled oil exports.
Philadelphia Fed Business Outlook Survey, Jan 2003
REPORT - Growth in the region's manufacturing sector remains sluggish, according to firms surveyed for the January 2003 Business Outlook Survey. Manufacturing activity in the region is showing improvement, according to this month's Business Outlook…
IMF Press Release
PRESS RELEASE - IMF Managing Director Issues Statement on Transitional Credit Support for Argentina, 17 January.
Extracts from an interview with Toshihiko Fukui
INTERVIEW - In an interview Toshihiko Fukui, a favourite to become the next governor of the Bank of Japan, says he has a great interest in inflation targeting. But if it was introduced it must be done in such a way as not to weaken discipline.
Edward George at the Scottish Bankers Dinner
SPEECH - In a speech Sir Edward George of the Bank of England said it would be unwise to set monetary policy on the basis of the worst possible outcome. Risks to the economy, including a sharp fall in consumer spending and a house price crash, "need to…
Bergo on challenges facing the Norwegian economy
SPEECH - In the speech 'Challenges facing the Norwegian economy' Jarle Bergo of Norges Bank said it should be possible for us to live well with petroleum, but it will require our addressing a number of challenges. The varying inflow of revenues must be…
Belgium seeks ECB post for bank critic De Grauwe
Belgium is stepping up its campaign to secure a seat on the board of the European Central Bank by nominating Paul De Grauwe, an academic who has criticized the bank for failing to promote growth. De Grauwe recently ran for the job of vice-president of…
Bank of Canada Press Release
PRESS RELEASE - Bank of Canada keeps target for the overnight rate at 2 3/4 per cent, 21 January.
BMA - Bahrain building on finance hub success
Bahrain is building on its unprecedented success as a banking and financial centre, delegates heard the BMA's governor say at an international conference on Monday.
Tougher Swiss banking rules
Switzerland has introduced more stringent rules on account identities in a renewed attempt to counter accusations that its tight bank secrecy laws encourage foreign tax evaders, terrorists and money launderers to hide their money in Swiss bank accounts.
Japan, Indonesia agree currency swap deal
Japan and Indonesia have agreed on a bilateral rupiah-dollar swap arrangement aimed at ensuring stability in the currency market by supplying short-term liquidity, the two countries said in a joint statement.
Lithuania may replace litas with euro in 2006
The Bank of Lithuania governor, Reinoldijus Sarkinas, said on Monday he saw no obstacles to Lithuania adopting the euro as its national currency in 2006 or early 2007.
Shiokawa puts deflation on center stage
Deflation is an issue for the entire government to tackle, Japan's Finance Minister Masajuro Shiokawa said Tuesday, reversing his earlier stance that the price declines of the last four years are the responsibility of the central bank.
Brazil targets inflation of 8.5 percent in 2003
Brazil's central bank said on Tuesday it would steer monetary policy to target a year-end inflation rate of 8.5 percent, more than double its original goal but still below market forecasts for 2003.
Jewish groups protest outside ECB building
Representatives of German Jewish groups protested against pro-Palestinian remarks by Gretta Duisenberg on Monday outside the European Central Bank, where her husband Wim Duisenberg is the president.
CentralBankNet Monday Special Feature
SPECIAL FEATURE - In this weeks special report CentralBankNet looks at a new survey of central banks. Latest trends in reserve management will be revealed in a book to be published later this week by Central Banking Publications. "How Countries Manage…
Broaddus on the economic outlook for 2003
SPEECH - In the speech 'The Economic Outlook for 2003' Alfred Broaddus of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond said he thought the Federal Reserve was unlikely to "run out of ammunition" as substantial levels of liquidity could still be introduced to the…
Gjedrem on the transatlantic economic partnership
SPEECH - In the speech 'Transatlantic Economic Partnership - Nordic and American perspectives' Svein Gjedrem of Norges Bank said the Nordic countries and the US have long historic ties with the number of Norwegians and their descendants living in the US…
Hamalainen on the role of monetary policy
SPEECH - In the speech 'The role of monetary policy and the central banks in global financial stability' Sirkka Hamalainen of the ECB said it is self-evident that the central bank needs a healthy banking and financial market sector in order to conduct…
Kansas City Fed Economic Review, Fourth Quarter 02
PUBLICATION - The Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City has published the Fourth Quarter 2002 edition of its Economic Review. This edition contains articles from the bank's 2002 Economic Policy Symposium, 'Rethinking Stabilization Policy' - Central Bank…
Chicago Fed Letter, January 2003 Special Issue
REPORT - The latest Chicago Fed Letter is titled 'Any bounce in the economy in 2003?'. The U.S. economy is growing, albeit at a sluggish pace. What can we expect in 2003? After an impressive performance through the recent recession, will consumer…
Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan's house broken into
Police are investigating a burglary at the Washington, D.C., residence of Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan, the U.S. central bank said on Friday.
Taiwan's Perng expected to remain as governor
The government is expected to give incumbent Central Bank of China Governor Perng Fai-nan a second term, it was reported Friday.
BMA-Central Bank of Iran in cooperation talks
Bahrain Monetary Agency (BMA) officials have held talks with their counterparts from The Central Bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The talks took place during a visit to Tehran by a seven-member Bahraini delegation, led by Mr. Waleed Abdulla Rashdan,…