Central Banking
UK to encourage Islamic mortgages
UK - Moves by the UK Treasury and the Bank of England to encourage Islamic mortgages, investments and current accounts in Britain may be under way.
India frees up bank investment rules
INDIA - Shares in India's leading banks have jumped by as much as 20%, after the government relaxed its rules on foreign investment.
Bangladesh talks with IMF fail
BANGLADESH - Negotiations between Bangladesh and the International Monetary Fund for an emergency balance of payments loan have failed.
France bids tearless farewell to franc
FEATURE - After 650 years of history, the franc disappears this weekend with about as much ceremony as the muttered address at the funeral of a forgotten relative.
Venezuela c bank to start dollar auctions Monday
VENEZUELA - The Venezuelan Central Bank will start Monday with a daily auction of U.S. dollars to the currency market to guarantee supplies of dollars while the bolivar adapts to a new free-floating exchange system.
Crucial factors for online banking
MALAYSIA - In order to provide Internet or online banking, banks operating in Malaysia are required by Bank Negara (BNM) to employ the services of a well mandated or a trusted security system.
Speech by Eva Srejber of Sveriges Riksbank, 13 Feb
SPEECH - In the speech titled 'A reunited Europe - the roles played by Sweden and the Riksbank' Srejber said "When the Riksbank makes its inflation forecasts, central and eastern Europe will move gradually from being a brief footnote to becoming an…
Speech by David Dodge of Bank of Canada, 31 Jan
SPEECH - In the speech Dodge said "Movements in the Canada-U.S. exchange rate do not yet appear to have reflected the recent developments in our economy. And to the extent that the recent depreciation of the Canadian dollar risks affecting consumer and…
Speech by Jurgen Stark of the Bundesbank, 13 Feb
SPEECH - The speech was given on the presentation of the report "IT innovations and financing patterns: Implications for the financial system". The report was prepared by a Working Group of the Committee on the Global Financial System (CGFS) composed of…
ECB Working Papers Series
RESEARCH - Performance of monetary policy with internal central bank forecasting, by Seppo Honkapohja and Kaushik Mitra, February 2002.
Townhall Meeting with IMF and World Bank leaders
MEETING - IMF Managing Director Horst Kohler and World Bank President James Wolfensohn with Civil Society Representatives Participating in the International Conference on Poverty Reduction Strategies, moderated by Warren Nyamugasira, Uganda National NGO…
IMF Press Briefing by Thomas Dawson
PRESS BRIEFING - Transcript of a Press Briefing by Thomas Dawson, Director, External Relations Department, International Monetary Fund, 13 February.
IMF News Brief
NEWS BRIEF - IMF's Kohler: Good Start to New Relationship with Argentina IMF Managing Director Horst Kohler said in Washington, D.C. today (13 February).
Central bank research paper by Alain Durre
RESEARCH - Would it be optimal for central banks to include asset prices in their loss function? by Alain Durre, Universite Catholique de Louvain, Institut de Recherches Economiques et Sociales (IRES).
Vietnam c bank governor has no bank account-media
VIETNAM - Vietnam's central bank Governor Le Duc Thuy, who is leading a campaign to reduce the country's reliance on cash transactions, has admitted he does not have a credit card, or a personal bank account.
Watch the Fed for clues to rise in gold sector
FEATURE - Gold has broken out and there is no shortage of theories as to why and where it's going from here. But, according to Chad Williams, investors should pay no attention to outlooks based on supply and demand, hedging, central bank sales or even…
Dutch c bank issues credit derivatives guidelines
NETHERLANDS - The Dutch central bank said Friday that it has issued guidelines to the Dutch financial sector on the use of credit derivatives to spread risks.
Riksbank's general council backs extra dividend
SWEDEN - The General Council of Sweden's Riksbank Friday presented a proposal to the Swedish parliament recommending that an additional SEK20 billion of the central bank's net income for 2001 be transferred to the Treasury.
Niedermayer to CNB board with effect from 27 Feb
CZECH REPUBLIC - President Vaclav Havel today re-appointed central bank CNB vice-governor Ludek Niedermayer to the Bank Board for another six-year term, with effect from 27 February.
Polish bank cautious about economic plan
POLAND - Two weeks after Poland's government issued an ambitious five-year strategy to kick-start slumping economic growth, the National Bank of Poland has maintained a stony silence.
Fed ready to raise rates this year - Guynn
US - The Federal Reserve may start reversing its series of 11 interest rate cuts if a stronger-than-expected recovery this year rekindles inflation concerns, says Jack Guynn, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta.
Australian Reserve Bank's credit-card plan slated
AUSTRALIA - MasterCard said it will consider scaling back its Australian operations if the central bank proceeds with its plan to cut credit-card fees and open the credit-card system to new participants.
Latvian parliament approves bank's vice president
LATVIA - The Latvian parliament Thursday almost unanimously approved as central bank vice-president Andris Ruselis, recommended for the office by Bank of Latvia president.
Barclays chief hits out at watchdogs
UK - The head of banking giant Barclays has warned City watchdogs against imposing overzealous regulation, or risk seeing financial services business lost abroad.