Central Banking
Japan ready to intervene in markets
JAPAN - Japan's government said yesterday it was prepared to take "decisive action" to prevent a further fall in the stock market after the Nikkei 225 benchmark index closed at an 18-year low.
Speech by Wim Duisenberg, President of the ECB
SPEECH - In a speech at Maastricht University, Duisenberg said that the E.U.'s budget rules as laid down in the Stability and Growth Pact are a key element for a well-functioning monetary union.
FSA steps up split caps probe
UK - The city watchdog has stepped up its investigation into split caps, with the announcement that it has started swooping on investment firms involved in the controversial trusts.
Speech by Eddie George, Bank of England Governor
SPEECH - In the speech George said "With inflationary pressures subdued, monetary policy generally can, for the time being at least, afford to remain reasonably supportive" - although he added that he made "no predictions as to what that may mean for…
BoE's George hints at reluctance to raise rates
UK - Sir Edward George, governor of the Bank of England, hinted last night that he does not support a rapid rise in interest rates.
Speech by Dr Y.V. Reddy of Reserve Bank of India
SPEECH - In the speech titled 'Indian Banking: Paradigm Shift in Public Policy' Reddy said the country's central bank desired to move to a 3 per cent cash reserve ratio (CRR) regime.
Speech by Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan
SPEECH - In his speech Ishrat Hussain said that a full-fledged 'Islamic' bank would shortly start functioning in Pakistan to switch over to interest-free banking in the country as per the verdict of the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
Speech by M R P Devakula, Bank of Thailand, 23 Jan
SPEECH - In the speech titled 'Commercial Banking and Financial Services: our Vision for Thailand' Devakula optimistically predicted that growth in gross domestic product (GDP) this year will stand at 2 to 3 per cent - well above the central bank's…
Speech by Urban Backstrom of Sveriges Riksbank
SPEECH - In the speech Backstrom said "The picture of inflation continues to be a problem that cannot be disregarded...the Riksbank must keep a close eye on new inflation statistics, deepen the analysis in the event of deviations and weight this into the…
Swedish c bank gov stands by Dec inflation outlook
SWEDEN - Swedish inflation, currently running well in excess of three percent, looks set to slow to levels around the central bank's two percent target, central bank, or Riksbank, Governor Urban Backstrom said on Saturday.
Testimony of Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan
TESTIMONY - In his testimony titled 'Financial literacy' Greenspan said "for an increasingly complex financial system to function effectively, widespread dissemination of timely financial and other relevant information among educated market participants…
Greenspan urges better financial knowledge
US - Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan said on Tuesday that consumers needed to increase their financial knowledge to cope with an increasingly sophisticated marketplace.
Reserve Bank of New Zealand News Release
NEWS RELEASE - The Reserve Bank today rejected the suggestion, made by ACT leader Richard Prebble, that the registration of Kiwibank involved any special treatment, 4 February.
Egypt calls for aid
EGYPT - Egypt is to ask international donors for financial support of $2.5bn to help it plug the gap in the country's accounts.
Japan shares hit 18-year low
JAPAN - Japan's shares have slumped to a new 18-year low.
Afghanistan's accounting nightmare
FEATURE - Deep in the vaults of Afghanistan's central bank is what looks like a mountain of money - bundles of notes piled as high as a man fill a small room.
Afghan currency 'expected to stabilise'
AFGHANISTAN - The Afghan currency, the Afghani, has seen huge changes in value over the last few months.
IMF approves $16bn for Turkey
TURKEY - The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved a $16bn economic package for Turkey, the third major aid program for Ankara in under two years.
Turkey - Letter of Intent
NEWS - The following item is a Letter of Intent of the government of Turkey, which describes the policies that Turkey intends to implement in the context of its request for financial support from the IMF.
IMF Press Release, 4 February
PRESS RELEASE - IMF Managing Director Sees Impressive Commitment by Turkey to Economic Reforms; Executive Board Approves US$16 Billion Stand-By Credit.
Czech Havel meets Niedermayer on his cbank post
CZECH REPUBLIC - Czech President Vaclav Havel met central bank (CNB) Vice-Governor Ludek Niedermayer late on Monday to discuss his future on the bank's policy-setting board, Havel's spokesman said on Tuesday.
China to open banking sector as promised
CHINA - China will keep its promise to gradually open up its banking sector in accordance with the timetable set in the WTO agreement, said Chinese central bank governor.
Poland deploys technology in reserve management
POLAND - Trema today announced that the National Bank of Poland has selected Finance KIT, Trema's straight-through processing treasury, risk and asset management solution, to automate its reserve management in preparation for Economic and Monetary Union…
Mexico - No rift with ctrl bk over power rate hike
MEXICO - There is "no rift at all" between the Mexican finance ministry and the central bank, following the government's decision to raise electricity prices, a move that Bank of Mexico Governor Guillermo Ortiz has dubbed inflationary, Finance Minister…