Africa
SARB's Quarterly Bulletin, March 2006
The South African Reserve Bank published its March 2006 Quarterly Bulletin on 23 March. According to the latest Bulletin, a relatively benign international economic environment contributed to the improved prospects facing the South African economy in…
SARB slows forex buying
The Reserve Bank of South Africa slowed its buying of US dollars to $345m last month from $1,289bn in January, figures published Tuesday showed.
SARB's Mboweni blasts 'know-it-all' IMF
South African Reserve Bank governor, Tito Mboweni, slammed the IMF and World Bank on Tuesday 28 February for what he called their high handedness and know it all approach when dealing with developing countries.
Comment: Zimbabwe's mystery repayment
Two weeks ago the Zimbabwean government managed to avoid expulsion from the IMF by paying off a large chunk of its debt to the Fund. However, the source of the forex-depleted government's finances remains a mystery.
SADC central banks meet in Malawi
Central banks from the Southern Africa Development Corporation (SADC) region are meeting at Ryalls Hotel in Malawi's commercial city of Blantyre to devise new laws that would be used as a benchmark for the standardization of central banks.
Emerging market reserves grow in January
Recent data show significant increases in foreign exchange reserves in a number of emerging market economies in January. The Philippines gross international reserves hit an all-time high of $20.504 billion at the end of January on fresh government…
SARB's Mboweni highlights inflation risks
The South African Reserve Bank last week left the repurchase rate unchanged at 7%, but governor, Tito Mboweni, cautioning that robust domestic demand together with oil and food prices posed potential risks to the inflation outlook.
New book on South Africa from the IMF
The International Monetary Fund has published a new book entitled, "Post-Apartheid South Africa: The First Ten Years". The authors, Michael Nowak and Luca Ricci, argue that "in successfully navigating the transition from apartheid to democracy, the…
Nigeria's Soludo to speak on global economy
The Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Prof. Charles Soludo, will speak on the global economy on January 24, at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
SARB's Quarterly Bulletin, December 2005
The South African Reserve Bank has released its December 2005 Quarterly Bulletin. According to the latest Bulletin, the world economy continued to enjoy robust economic growth in the first three quarters of 2005 and is likely to register real growth of…
BCEAO governor named as Cote D'Ivoire PM
The governor of the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO), Charles Konan Banny, has been named the new Prime Minister of the Cote D'Ivoire, formerly known as Ivory Coast.
Comment: Risks facing buoyant South Africa
As is the case in many emerging market economies, South Africa is yet to escape the perception that its economic fortunes are to a large extent dependent on the performance of its currency.
Mboweni's financial & economic review of the year
In the speech 'A financial and economic review of the year' given on 24 November Tito Mboweni of the South African Reserve Bank said global oil prices and domestic demand still posed "significant risks" to South Africa's inflation outlook, but so far…
UK's Brown says India, China to attend G7 meeting
China, India, Brazil and South Africa will attend part of the G7 finance ministers meeting this week, British finance minister Gordon Brown said on Monday 28 November.
Plenderleith to retire from SARB
South African Reserve Bank deputy governor Ian Plenderleith will retire at the end of his three-year contract on 31 December 2005, an SARB spokesperson was quoted as saying this week.
SARB's Mboweni on the rand and hot money outflows
In the speech 'How exposed is the rand to the potential outflow of hot money?' given on 21 November Tito Mboweni of the South African Reserve Bank said there are a number of indicators that provide some comfort that the South African economy is coping…
SARB's Mboweni on the rand
Governor Tito Mboweni yesterday said the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) favoured a "competitive" exchange rate. The country's mining and manufacturing sectors have struggled to adapt to an appreciating rand, since the currency rallied from historical…
Drop exchange controls: SARB's Mboweni
South African Reserve Bank (SARB) governor raised some eyebrows on Wednesday evening, when he told a conference audience in Cape Town that the country's remaining foreign exchange controls have become "purposeless" should be abolished.
SARB's Mboweni on the South African economy
In a speech given on 25 October, Tito Mboweni of the South African Reserve Bank said the markets have been through some testing times, but we certainly have a come long way from the days of double digit inflation, and the rand being a one-way bet.
SADC economic integration timetable questioned
Southern Africa will be unable to realize its economic integration plans by 2012 if the current pace of implementation is not increased, a senior South African official warned on Monday 31 October.
SARB's Quarterly Bulletin, September 2005
The South African Reserve Bank has released its September 2005 Quarterly Bulletin. According to the latest Bulletin, global economic activity lost some of its earlier vigour in the first half of 2005, but still maintained a sturdy and probably more…
South Africa plans no change to inflation target
Treasury Director General Lesetja Kganyago has said South Africa has no plans to modify its inflation targeting framework to aim for the middle of the established three to six per cent target range.
Bank of Uganda signs foreign reserve software deal
The Bank of Uganda has become the third African central bank to adopt a financial technology solution from Trema, the company announced recently.
SARB's Mboweni on the Annual Economic Report 2005
The South African Reserve Bank published its Annual Economic Report 2005 on 24 August. In his address to the shareholders of the Bank, Tito Mboweni said he was pleased to be able to report on another successful year for the South African Reserve Bank…