Central Banking
Polish MPC blamed for keeping interest rates high
POLAND - The Polish central bank came under heavy fire from officials and analysts on 31 May for holding interest rates steady despite saying there was little demand-side price pressure in the economy.
ECB chief predicts success for euro notes launch
EUROPE - Wim Duisenberg, president of the European Central Bank, has insisted that the changeover to euro notes and coins on January 1 2002 would be a success, rejecting pleas for small denomination euro notes to be distributed to the public in advance.
Euro is a safeguard for UK
ARTICLE - Soon to depart Bank of England MPC member DeAnne Julius sees the euro as a safeguard for UK industry. Speaking recently she considers her own future, Britain's European prospects and the set-up at the ECB.
System approach for measuring the Euro area NAIRU
RESEARCH - This working paper from the ECB is co-written by Silvia Fabiani and Ricardo Mestre. The paper attempts to extend the analysis of a euro area-wide measure of the NAIRU, using time-series techniques rather than more structural approaches.
Canada lowers key interest rate
CANADA - Canada's central bank trimmed its key overnight interest rate on 29 May by 25 basis points to 4.5 per cent, stating that while US demand for Canadian products had slowed during the first part of the year, the domestic economy continued to show…
"Wise man" calls for half-point ECB rate cut
GERMANY - One of Germany's senior economic advisers has said that the European Central Bank should cut interest rates by half a percentage point to help boost the economy.
SE Asian ctrl bankers to meet in Singapore Jun 1-2
SINGAPORE - Southeast Asian central bankers will gather in Singapore for a two-day meeting starting on Friday 1 June to discuss developments in the financial markets, the Monetary Authority of Singapore, the meeting's host, said.
Rebuke for UK chancellors ECB reform calls
UK - Gordon Brown has come under criticism from Ernst Welteke, who was speaking yesterday (29 May), for urging the ECB to improve its openness after just three years of operation.
Philippine government plans to raise its PNB stake
Philippines - The Philippine National Bank has said the government planned to increase its stake in the ailing bank, but wasn't keen on taking a majority shareholding.
Central Bank of Norway Financial Stability Report
REPORT - The Central Bank of Norway, Norges Bank, has published its Financial Stability report, May 2001.
African bank hit by protests
SPAIN - The African Development Bank (ADB), which works to reduce poverty and help struggling economies, has become a target of anti-capitalist protestors, despite its popularity amongst poor people in Africa.
Nigerian bank begins reforms next week
NIGERIA - A restructuring exercise that will reposition the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for greater efficiency will begin next week, 4 June.
Thai government sacks central bank boss
THAILAND - The Thai government has sacked the governor of the Central Bank, Chatu Mongol Sonakul, following a dispute over monetary policy. Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said he was not satisfied with the bank's policy of keeping interest rates low.
Bank of England - Basle can undermine stability
UK - The Bank of England has issued a warning over new capital rules put together by the Basle committee of bank regulators.
Thai PM says central bank is free to set rates
THAILAND - Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said on 25 May that the Bank of Thailand (BOT) had the freedom to set the country's interest rate policy and his government's views only reflected its concern on the issue.
IMF deal forbids Russian bank gold sales
RUSSIA - Russia's deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) would forbid Moscow from selling gold from central bank reserves, even to help in emergencies, a government source said on 25 May.
Speech by Fed chairman Alan Greenspan
SPEECH - Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan gave a speech on 24 May at the Economic Club of New York. In it he assesses the US economy's recent performance and speculates on the future.
MAS chairman on building one financial world
SPEECH - Lee Hsien Loong, chairman of the Monetary Authority of Singapore, has delivered the keynote address at the ACI world congress, Singapore. The speech was delivered on 25 May and concerned Asia's experience of managing financial integration.
New board of directors at Bank of Uganda
UGANDA - Tumusime Mutebile has been appointed as the new governor of the Bank of Uganda.
Monetary Authority of Singapore Quarterly Report
RESEARCH - The economics department of the Monetary Authority of Singapore has published its May 2001 Quarterly Report on Financial Markets.
Senior appointment at HKMA
HONG KONG - The Hong Kong's government's Financial Secretary has approved the appointment of Mr Eddie Yue Wai-man as Executive Director.
The BMA's new governor arrives
BAHRAIN - The new governor of the Bahrain Monetary Agency (BMA), Shaikh Ahmed bin Mohammed al-Khalifa, has taken up his position. He was appointed at the same time as the mid-April cabinet reshuffle.
Argentina's Senate approves new bank chief
ARGENTINA - Argentina's Senate voted late on 23 May to approve the appointment of Roque Maccarone as new president of the Central Bank.
Former Brazil bank chief faces accusations
BRAZIL - The Brazilian government is now confronting accusations that a former president of the Brazilian central bank sold information to private bankers just before a large currency devaluation two years ago.