Central Banking
Liberalising our exchange controls
ARTICLE - At the recently-held public/private sector consultation on economic and related issues, Governor of the Central Bank of Barbados, Dr. Marion Williams presented a paper on Barbados' response to the liberalisation of trade in financial services.
Surprise rise for UK inflation seen
UK - UK inflation has risen higher than expected, casting doubt on the need for another interest rate cut.
Crunch time for US economy as Fed ponder rate move
US - An indicator of US economic health will come today, as the Federal Reserve is due to announce its latest monthly interest rate decision.
Bank of Japan Monetary Policy Meeting
PRESS RELEASE - Monetary Policy Decision from the Bank of Japan, 9 August. The Bank unanimously decided to maintain its current stance but was ready to react with increased liquidity if the stability of financial markets was at risk.
RBA Statement on Monetary Policy, August 2002
REPORT - Reserve Bank of Australia, Statement on Monetary Policy, August 2002. The statement struck a cautiously optimistic note with the Reserve Bank saying 'the most plausible scenario' was that global markets would stabilise and Australian economic…
Electronic Payment Usage Grows- Chicago Fed Letter
PUBLICATION - The August 2002 issue of Chicago Fed Letter explores the recent growth of online person-to person payments, the problems and opportunities faced by payment providers and future opportunities for these payments.
Chicago Fed Letter - September Special Issue 2002
PUBLICATION - The household balance sheet-Too much debt? By Francois Velde, senior economist, September (Special Issue) 2002. Are U.S. households carrying too much debt? Debt levels have grown recently to unprecedented levels. But that is nothing new, as…
MAS Press Briefing on Annual Report release
PRESS BRIEFING - Press Briefing for Monetary Authority of Singapore Annual Report 2001-2002. Opening remarks by Mr Koh Yong Guan, Managing Director, MAS, 2 August.
MAS - Annual Report 2001-2002
ANNUAL REPORT - The Monetary Authority of Singapore has published its Annual Report for the year ended 2001-2002.
Jamaican central banker honoured
JAMAICA - Central bank governor Derick Latibeaudiere has been awarded the Order of Jamaica for his "significant contribution to central banking and finance".
Bahrain starts Islamic financial market
BAHRAIN - An international Islamic financial market dealing in products that comply with Sharia law has been set-up in Bahrain, the Gulf's regional financial and banking hub.
Japan's central bank ignores IMF plea on deflation
JAPAN - The Bank of Japan ignored a call from the International Monetary Fund to act against deflation plaguing the nation's economy on Friday, keeping its ultra-loose monetary policy unchanged.
Kuwait reports use of bank notes decreasing
ARTICLE - Over the past few years the demand for charge cards provided by Kuwaiti banks has increased, and has coincided with an enhancement of knowledge surrounding " plastic money", in an attempt to convert Kuwait into a society that depends largely on…
Bank of Spain to close 30 branches
SPAIN - On 8 August unions and management of the Bank of Spain agreed to close 30 of the central bank's branches, and not 31 as previously planned.
No middle ground on operational risk debate
ARTICLE - While regulators insist they are well on their way down the road to new international capital standards, bankers say they are following the wrong map to destinations unknown. From American Banker, 12 August.
Thailand's central bank in upbeat mood on economy
THAILAND - The Bank of Thailand is confident that deflation will not be an immediate concern. M.R. Pridiyathorn Devakula, the central bank governor, said the prevailing exchange rate of about 42.5 baht to the US dollar would not trigger inflation either.
Issing sees slow US growth rather than double dip
GERMANY - European Central Bank chief economist Otmar Issing was quoted on Monday as saying a "double dip" in the U.S. economy could not be ruled out but that continued slow growth was more likely.
RBA report says rates may rise again
AUSTRALIA - The Reserve Bank of Australia expressed confidence on Monday that recent market volatility would have only a minor effect on the world economy and signalled it stands ready to raise interest rates again once current uncertainty passes.
Euro banknotes fail test of time
GERMANY - Germans were among the swiftest of Europeans to detect that the euro was dangerous to their wealth. Now it seems the replacement to the mighty mark just does not cut it in the rough and tumble of everyday life.
IMF News Brief
NEWS BRIEF - IMF Completes First Review and Approves New Increase on Uruguay Stand-By, 8 August.
IMF Public Information Notice
NOTICE - IMF Advances Efforts to Combat Money Laundering and Terrorist Finance, 8 August.
Short-Term Gains Versus Long-Term Challenges
RESEARCH - An Article By Michael Deppler and Jerald Schiff, Director and Division Chief, European I Department, International Monetary Fund, Public Service Review: Accession States, 25 July.
ECB Working Paper Series
RESEARCH - The rationality of consumers' inflation expectations: survey-based evidence for the euro area, by M. Forsells and G. Kenny, August 2002. The results suggest consumers' inflation expectations in the euro area satisfy an intermediate rather that…
Economic Perspectives, Third Quarter 2002
PUBLICATION - The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago has published its regular quarterly journal of in-depth articles reporting on the Bank's economic research.