Central Banking
ECB reform to cap votes not council size - Report
GERMANY - The European Central Bank wants to limit, through rotation, the number of governing council members that can vote on monetary policy after euro zone enlargement, a German newspaper reported on Thursday.
Convicted BI chief to miss IMF meeting
INDONESIA - Bank Indonesia Governor Sjahril Sabirin will skip the annual meeting of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington this weekend, following the conviction in the Bank Bali scandal last month that bans him from leaving the country.
No note solution to fake coins in Hong Kong
HONG KONG - The Hong Kong Monetary Authority appears reluctant to re-introduce the printing of HK$10 notes, despite a surge in counterfeit HK$10 coins last year.
Vietnam ctrl bk to expand open mkt ops by June
VIETNAM - Vietnam's central bank is planning to hold two sessions of open market operations a week, instead of one currently, to expand dong liquidity, a bank official said Thursday.
Speech by Ulrich Kohli, Swiss Nat Bank, 26 Feb
SPEECH - Kohli concludes in a speech titled 'Will the Euro Make the Swiss Franc Obsolete?' that as long as the SNB maintains an independent course of action, it will uphold the reputation of the Swiss franc as a safe and sound currency, and it will…
Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee Minutes
MINUTES - Minutes from the Bank of England's MPC meeting 3 and 4 April, released 17 April.
Reserve Bank of New Zealand News Release
NEWS RELEASE - Official Cash Rate increased to 5.25 per cent, 17 April.
Basel Committee on Banking Supervision
PRESS RELEASE - Basel Committee on Banking Supervision supports collective action to halt terrorist funding, 17 April.
Basel Committee Publications No. 89
REPORT - Sharing of financial records between jurisdictions in connection with the fight against terrorist financing, April 2002.
European Parliament Press Release
PRESS RELEASE - ECB Vice-Presidency - Nomination hearing for Lucas Papademos, European Parliament, Brussels, 22 April.
Testimony of Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan, 17 Apr
TESTIMONY - In testimony to the US Congress titled 'Monetary policy and the economic outlook' Greenspan said the strength of the current U.S. economic recovery was not yet clear and praised the economy's resilience in the face of some difficulties, "but…
Speech by U Backstrom of Sveriges Riksbank, 17 Apr
SPEECH - In the speech 'Perspective on the inflation target' Backstrom said the Swedish economy may be close to, or even above, full resource utilisation noting this posed a risks to future inflation.
Greenspan dampens rate hike fears
US - The US Federal Reserve is expected to leave interest rates unchanged until an economic recovery in the US has gained a strong foothold, analysts said after having listened to a key speech by the Fed chairman Alan Greenspan.
EU Parliament committee to question Papademos
BELGIUM - European Central Bank Vice President nominee Lucas Papademos will testify before the European Parliament's Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee (EMAC) on 22 April, the Parliament said on Wednesday.
Polish premier calls for interest rate cut
POLAND - Prime Minister Leszek Miller said on Wednesday he hoped that the Monetary Policy Council (RPP) would support the government in implementing its economic programme by cutting interest rates.
Key Duma committees back three for CBR board
RUSSIA - The Duma Banking and Budget Committees supported Wednesday the candidacies of Oleg Vyugin, Andrei Kozlov and Nadezha Ivanova for the Central Bank of Russia (CBR) Board of Directors.
FX traders to kiss goodbye to settlement risk
FEATURE - Currency traders, more aware of the potential for disruption in the financial system after September 11, should draw comfort from a long-awaited settlement system linked to central banks that is due to go live this year.
Kazakh gold/forex reserves up to $2.65 bln
KAZAKHSTAN - Kazakhstan's net gold and foreign currency reserves grew to $2.650 billion on April 15 from $2.625 billion on 31 March, the central bank said on Wednesday.
High resource use a worry for Sweden's c bank
SWEDEN - The Swedish economy may be running close to or even above full resource utilisation, the governor of Sweden's central bank, the Riksbank, said on Wednesday, adding this posed risks for inflation in the future.
Japan lawmaker says BOJ chief not worth his salt
FEATURE - Is a central bank governor who has been unable to halt a three-year decline in prices or prevent the longest recession in decades worth his salt - particularly when his paycheck is 38.43 million yen ($293,000) a year?
Croatia moves to restore confidence in banks
CROATIA - The Croatian National Bank is seeking to restore confidence in the country's banks after politicians suggested a trading scandal might have affected more than one bank.
India considers establishing gold exchange
INDIA - Pressure is building on the Indian federal government to give clearance for setting up a gold exchange for spot, forward and futures trading in the precious metal.
Argentine economy minister to meet US' O'Neill
ARGENTINA - Argentine Economy Minister Jorge Remes Lenicov, seeking IMF aid to help stabilize a brutal recession, will meet with U.S. Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill during an upcoming trip to Washington, Argentine officials said late on Tuesday.
Speech by Masaru Hayami, Bank of Japan, 17 Apr
SPEECH - Statement by Masaru Hayami, Governor of the Bank of Japan, concerning the Bank's Semiannual Report on Currency and Monetary Control before the Committee on Financial Affairs, House of Representatives, on April 17 2002.