Central Banking
Bank of Greece to up 2000 dividend
Bank of Greece, the country's central bank, said on Mar 8 that net profit in fiscal 2000 rose 52 percent to 167.2 billion drachmas ($457 million) versus 110.1 billion in 1999.
Bank of England holds rates at 5.75% for now
The Bank of England left its key interest rate steady at 5.75 percent on Mar 8, declining to cut rates despite a deteriorating global economic outlook.
Hungary Jarai-wider euro/forint band in 12-18 mos
The Hungarian forint's trading band could be widened in 12 to 18 months, recently appointed central bank governor Zsigmond Jarai told business daily Vilaggazdasag in an interview published Mar 8, 2001.
China shareholding banks must reform further-PBOC
Shareholding commercial banks must be encouraged to further improve their corporate management structure and financial services to develop in a sound, steady way, said the governor of the People's Bank of China.
RBA appoints Frank Campbell as assistant governor
The Reserve Bank of Australia has announced the appointment of Frank Campbell to the post of Assistant Governor, Corporate Services department.
Solomons stares into economic abyss- cbank chief
The Solomon Islands is just weeks away from economic collapse, with a real risk the South Pacific nation will simply disintegrate, the country's central bank governor, Rick Houenipwela, warned on Mar 7, 2001.
CBC gov favours listing of Taiwan firms in China
Perng Fai-nan, governor of Taiwan's central bank, said on Mar 7, 2201 that he personally endorses Taiwanese manufacturers that have set up companies in mainland China to get listed on the mainland's stock markets for fundraising purposes.
Performance of Norway's oil fund announced-Mar 9
Norway's Oil Fund will annouce its results on Mar 9, 2001 when it presents its annual report for 2000 at a press conference.
US rebound likely later this year-McDonough,Moskow
William McDonough and Michael Moskow, in separate speeches on separate continents, said on Mar 8 that a rebound was likely later in 2001.
Does Europe want a single market?-Malcolm Levitt
The shortcomings of Europe's single market for financial services extend farbeyond securities markets. Consumers lose, and politicians seem to lack thestomach for reform. Radical change, including the swift adoption of AlexandreLamfalussy's…
The heavy hand of the SEC-Ed Waitzer
The SEC has concluded its campaign to stop auditors undertaking consultingwork for clients. Despite the cease-fire, the "rancorous, wasteful and damaging"fight has alienated the profession and undermined self-regulation, for littlediscernible benefit,…
Interview: Walter Shipley
Walter Shipley, recently retired chairman of Chase Manhattan/J.P Morgan, has justchaired a working group on public disclosure aimed at investigating howdisclosure by large US banks and securities firms could be improved. He spoketo Central Banking's…
Gemany's Hans Eichel's shock to the system-article
The decision of Hans Eichel, the German finance minister, to establish a unifiedfinancial services regulator came as a surprise to many, and a bitter shock to theBundesbank, which had lobbied to take over bank supervision itself. KlausEngelen reports.
Joint euro steering group to tackle counterfeiters
The European Central Bank, European Commission and Europol on Mar 7, 2001 said they had jointly developed an action plan to combat would-be euro cash counterfeiters.
Yen crashes to 20-month lows against dollar
The yen fell beyond 120 to the dollar for the first time in 20 months on Mar 7, 2001 as expectation grew that Japan would tolerate a weaker yen to bolster its flagging economy.
Berlin cbank president opposes ECB rate cut-paper
The European Central Bank shouldn't move to cut interest rates before euro-zone inflation reaches 2.2%, Landeszentralbank president Klaus-Dieter Kuehbacher said in an interview.
Russia cbank says too soon to ease forex sale rule
Russian Central Bank Chairman Viktor Gerashchenko said in an interview published on Mar 7, 2001 that it was too early to reduce the percentage of foreign currency receipts that Russian exporters are required to sell in exchange for roubles.
Japan foreign reserves fall in Feb on weak euro
Japan's foreign reserves, the largest in the world, fell in Feb 2001 for the first time in six months, hit in part by a decline in the euro, a Finance Ministry (MOF) official said on Mar 7.
RBA cuts official cash rate by 25 bps to 5.50%
The Reserve Bank of Australia announced on Mar 7, 2001 it had cut the official cash rate target to 5.50 per cent, from 5.75 per cent, but was criticised for past policy mistakes by the prime minister.
Central banks use GSE debt to adjust portfolio-BIS
Central banks appear to be increasingly using agency securities in lieu of Treasurys to make necessary adjustments to their portfolios, the Bank for International Settlements said in a report released on Mar 5, 2001.
Mussa to step down as IMF economic counsellor
Michael Mussa is to step down as the IMF's Economic Counsellor and Director of the Research Department at the end of his current term in the position, Managing Director Horst Kohler announced on Mar 7, 2001.
Fed says U.S. economy grew sluggishly early 2001
The U.S. economy grew at a "sluggish to modest" pace at the start of the 2001, helped by slightly stronger consumer spending as retailers cut prices to clear their shelves, the Federal Reserve said on Mar 7, 2001 in its Beige Book.
The New Basel Capital Proposal -Fed Meyer speech
US Federal Reserve Governor Laurence H. Meyer gave a speech on "The New Basel Capital Proposal" at the Annual Washington Conference of the Institute of International Bankers on Mar 5. Meyer says that the Basel proposal may be complex and at times…
Financial crises in emerging markets-NY Fed paper
Terrence J. Checki and Ernest Stern from the New York Fed have written a paper "Financial Crises in the Emerging Markets: The Roles of the Public and Private Sectors" in Current Issues in Economics and Finance. This article examines some of the key…