Banks
Bank of Mexico in paintings mix up with government
CentralBankNet hears of an unfortunate mix up involving valuable paintings, the Bank of Mexico and an apparent infringement of copyright on the central banks fine art collection.
Norges Bank Press Release, 5 Mar
PRESS RELEASE - Norges Bank has decided to reduce the interest rate on banks' deposits with Norges Bank, the sight deposit rate, by 0.50 percentage point with effect from 6 March. The interest rate on banks' overnight loans will also be reduced by 0.50…
Bundesbank may opt to sell gold reserves - report
Mr Welteke, president of the Bundesbank, was reported as saying that the Bundesbank may become a party to the upcoming agreement among gold-holding central banks of Europe to sell part of their gold reserves. The new agreement may allow for increased…
OCC blow to Basel II timing
Hopes of finalising the new Basel capital accord in 2003 took a blow Monday as US Comptroller of the Currency John D. Hawke said in a speech that the OCC would insist on changes to the accord if, after a round of public consultation, US banks were not…
Brazil's interest rate increase wins IMF support
The IMF praised Brazil's central banks decision to increase interest rates saying that the move will help control inflation.
RBI issues risk management guidelines
In its guidelines on country risk management, the Reserve Bank of India has asked banks to address issues of identifying, measuring, monitoring and controlling country exposure risks in their country risk management policies.
EU banking sector stability report
REPORT - The European Central Bank (ECB) released on 24 February a report on the stability of the EU banking sector. The report was prepared by the Banking Supervision Committee of the European System of Central Banks, which comprises representatives…
EU's Solbes: ECB reform proposals not ideal
The European Central Bank's proposals to change the voting system for its governing council have not been received warmly. The Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner Pedro Solbes has described the proposals as "not the ideal solution".
Ukraine: Security Service may join c bank's board
The chairman of the National Bank of Ukraine, Serhiy Tyhypko, has said he is not opposed to including members of Ukraine's uniformed ministries on the bank's board.
The Bank of Canada and the search for a new No. 2
ARTICLE - The Bank of Canada has received a wide range of inquiries from both inside and outside the bank to fill its No. 2 job, the central bank's selection committee chairman said on Friday.
EU Commission wants joint action by central banks
The EU Commission is in favour of a joint effort by all international central banks if a war in Iraq should weaken the world economy, financial daily Boersen-Zeitung said, citing an internal note from the EU's economic and monetary affairs commissioner…
Venezuela cen bank cuts discount rate to 39 pct
Venezuela's Central Bank on Tuesday lowered its discount rate for local banks seeking to borrow money to meet reserve requirements from 42 percent to 39 percent.
BIS Press Release
PRESS RELEASE - Central banks to collect more in-depth statistics on banks' country risk exposures, 7 February.
Financial Services Policy Committee Press Release
PRESS RELEASE - Federal Reserve Banks Announce Changes to Increase EfficiencyIn Check Services as Check Volumes Decline Nationwide, 6 Feb.
Greenspan to deliver Senate report next week
Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan is scheduled to appear before a Senate panel next week to deliver the central bank's semi-annual report on the health of the economy, a Senate Banking Committee aide said on Tuesday.
Interview with Nobuyuki Nakahara
INTERVIEW - Currently an adviser to Japan's Financial Services Agency Nobuyuki Nakahara is a favourite to land the job of governor of the Bank of Japan in March. In the interview he said the introduction of a 1-3 per cent inflation target would serve as…
Central banks sign cooperation agreement
Greece's central bank governor, Nikos Garganas, and his Romanian counterpart, Constantin Isarescu, were due to sign in Bucharest Friday a memorandum of cooperation in the two countries' exercise of supervision competences over commercial banks operating…
Kazakh national bank to up gold purchases in 2003
The Kazakhstan National Bank plans to increase gold purchases on the domestic market in 2003. The Bank's net gold and foreign currency reserves totalled 2.981bn dollars in December 2002.
Hamalainen on the role of monetary policy
SPEECH - In the speech 'The role of monetary policy and the central banks in global financial stability' Sirkka Hamalainen of the ECB said it is self-evident that the central bank needs a healthy banking and financial market sector in order to conduct…
Taiwan acts on banking reform
Taiwan's finance ministry is encouraging banks to clean up their balance sheets by offering streamlined product approval for those with non-performing loan (NPL) ratios of below 5 per cent.
BIS meeting - Central bankers wary of Iraq war
Central banks need to watch the situation in Iraq closely and be prepared to act to stop any war damaging a modest world economic pickup in 2003, Bank of England Governor Sir Edward George said on Monday at a regular BIS meeting in Switzerland.
Jamaica introduces deposit requirements
The Bank of Jamaica (BOJ) has instituted a so-called Special Deposit Requirement for commercial banks and institutions licensed under the Financial Institutions Act.
Russian central bank to withdraw foreign capital
This year the Russian central bank plans to significantly reduce its share in Russian foreign banks and will withdraw from their capital fully at the beginning of 2004.
Report to show Japan's banks failing capital test
A comprehensive study of Japan's financial system being carried out by the International Monetary Fund will reveal that the capital adequacy of a number of Japanese banks falls below international requirements, according to a former IMF economist.