Central Banking
Argentina "very close" to IMF accord - Report
ARGENTINA - Argentina's economy will shrink even further this year, the International Monetary Fund has warned.
Fed's Minehan sees e-payments change as inevitable
US - The shift in the financial payments and settlements system to electronic transactions is proceeding apace, and the U.S. central bank is embracing that change, Cathy Minehan, the president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, said on Tuesday.
Zimbabwe to target money supply growth
ZIMBABWE - Concerted action aimed at curtailing monetary growth and increasing the output of goods and services in the economy is vital if a sustainable reduction in inflation to levels that promote investment and growth is to be achieved, warns the…
Euro position remains cautious - UK chancellor
UK - The five economic tests which will be used to measure whether it is in Britain's interests to join the euro mustn't be fudged, Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown said Friday.
Russia issues world cup commemorative coins
RUSSIA - The Central Bank 5 May will introduce commemorative gold and silver coins in denominations of 3 and 50 rubles to commemorate this summer's World Cup football (soccer) finals in Japan and South Korea.
OECD ponders action against tax havens
SWITZERLAND - Switzerland and Luxembourg could face financial sanctions if they continue to refuse to commit themselves to an international initiative against harmful tax practices.
Central banks and asset inflation
FEATURE - A modern central bank needs to watch asset prices as well as traditional inflation.
Recent comments by Bank of England MPC members
Feature - Reflection on recent comment from the nine members of the monetary policy committee of the Bank of England, 19 April.
Back from a King's vault, the lone double eagle
FEATURE - It is a $20 gold piece from 1933 that was ordered destroyed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Stolen from the United States Mint, it was exported for a king after the government committed the bumble of all bumbles, was contested in an…
G7 to focus on World Bank grants, terror finance
US - The Group of Seven leading industrial nations finance ministers' meeting Friday will focus on proposals to increase World Bank grants and ongoing efforts to cut off sources of terrorism finance, a senior U.S. Treasury official said Friday.
Speech by Dr Wellink, Nederlandsche Bank, 13 Mar
SPEECH - In the speech titled 'EU expansion and EMU' Wellink said that European interests are Dutch interests and warns against premature changeover to the euro of new Member States into the Union. "The surrender of exchange rate flexibility and the euro…
Speech by Jean-Pierre Roth, Swiss Nat Bank, 26 Feb
SPEECH - Roth said in his speech that an independent Swiss franc is an important asset for Switzerland's financial sector. "Neither in the U.K., nor in Switzerland, is European monetary integration considered to be a necessary or a sufficient condition…
Speech by K Persson of Sveriges Riksbank, 17 Apr
SPEECH - In the speech titled 'Monetary policy and competition' Persson said growth in demand in Sweden and abroad seems to be recovering, suggesting the Riksbank was not worried that the economy might stall. "Growth in demand now appears to be on the…
Reserve Bank of Australia Bulletin, April 2002
REPORT - The Reserve Bank of Australia has published its Bulletin for April, Trends in Australia's Exports, 18 April.
Institute for Monetary and Economic Studies
RESEARCH - Research papers from the Bank of Japan, Institute for Monetary and Economic Studies (2002), released 18 April.
ECB Press Release
PRESS RELEASE - ECB opinion on the appointment of the Vice-President of the ECB, 18 April 2002.
Speech by H Kohler, Managing Director, IMF, 17 Apr
SPEECH - Kohler said in a speech titled 'Promoting Sustained Growth and International Financial Stability' that the U.S. economic recovery should provide a lift for the rest of the world, making now a good time for the world's largest economies to…
IMF Press Conference with Horst Kohler
PRESS CONFERENCE - Transcript of a Press Conference with Horst Kohler, Managing Director, International Monetary Fund, National Press Club, Washington, D.C. 17 April.
IMF statement on Argentina
STATEMENT - Statement by the IMF Mission to Argentina, 17 April.
The Recession that Almost Was
FEATURE - A Commentary by Kenneth Rogoff, Economic Counsellor and Director, Research Department, International Monetary Fund, 5 April.
Bush considers Kohn for Fed board US official says
US - U.S. President George W. Bush is seriously considering Donald Kohn, a top staffer at the U.S. Federal Reserve, for a seat on the U.S. central bank's board, a senior Bush administration official said on Thursday.
McDonough says Fed has time before rate hike
US - Federal Reserve Bank of New York President William McDonough said on Thursday the Fed is unsure about how strong the U.S. economy may be in the latter half of this year and can be patient before raising interest rates.
Korea to name c bank board member in next 2 weeks
SOUTH KOREA - South Korean President Kim Dae-jung will likely name a new member to the Bank of Korea's monetary policy board either next week or in the following week, a central bank official said Thursday.
Abachas reported to return $1bn to Nigeria
UK - The family of Sani Abacha, Nigeria's former dictator, has agreed to return $1bn ( £600m) in funds looted from the country's central bank in return for the dropping of theft and money laundering charges against Abacha's son and one of Abacha's…