News/Governance
Bernanke heads to Capitol Hill
Market participants will have all eyes on Ben Bernanke as he appears before a US Senate committee on Tuesday, 15 November. Bernanke is to appear before the Senate Banking Committee as part of the run-up to him taking over the reins from Alan Greenspan as…
Bank of Canada enhances transparency
The Bank of Canada has implemented new measures to enhance the transparency and accountability of its operations.
ECB opposes BoI reform bill
Attempts to reform governance structures at the Bank of Italy (BoI) yesterday received another blow when Lorenzo Bini Smaghi, a member of the ECB's executive board, said the government should amend some of the initiatives proposed in a parliamentary bill.
New central banking appointments
A number of new appointments in key central banking positions were announced last week.
BoK feels the pinch
Bank of Korea (BoK) officials are up in arms about alleged plans by the government to scrap some of the central bank's 16 regional headquarters and cut its payroll.
Interview with PBOC's Tang Xu
In an interview published on Wednesday 2 November, Tang Xu, director-general of the research bureau of the People's Bank of China, said China's economy has already achieved its long-awaited landing even with growth rates around 9 percent.
Swaziland appoints new board member
Finance Minister Majozi Sithole has appointed Swaziland Finance and Development Corporation CEO Vincent Mhlanga to the Central Bank of Swaziland's Board of Directors.
Ireland's Hurley ranked tops for pay
Central Bank of Ireland governor John Hurley was listed as the third-highest paid governor in the twelve-nation eurozone this week, even though he leads the smallest central bank.
Lazear may replace Bernanke on Advisory Council
US President George W Bush may replace Ben Bernanke with Edward Lazear as chairman of the White House Council of Economic Advisers, a report quoted sources as saying.
With Bernanke at bat, Fed will target inflation
According to this recent article, Ben Bernanke will devote significant staff resources to further study on issues he has spoken and written about, when he takes over at the Fed. And the advantages of his approach will become overwhelming enough in the…
Former World Bank chief moves to Citigroup
Citigroup said this week that James D. Wolfensohn, 71, who left as president of the World Bank last spring after 10 years at the helm, would serve as a global strategy adviser to senior management and clients.
New deputy governor appointed to ECCB
Trevor Brathwaite, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, International Financial Services and Economic Affairs, St Lucia, was appointed Deputy Governor of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) this week.
Bank of Israel lowers pay for new workers
The Bank of Israel will pay new workers 30 per cent less than current employees, under an agreement reached between the central bank, its workers union and the Finance Ministry.
Brazil central bank workers end month long strike
Brazil's central bank employees resumed work this week after a one month strike which delayed the release of important macroeconomic data.
Iceland's Oddsson waives pension rights
David Oddsson, former prime minister and new governor of the Central Bank of Iceland, has declined to take up a retirement pension for his 13 years as prime minister and one year as foreign minister.
Interview with PBOC's Xiang Junbo
In a recent interview People's Bank of China deputy governor, Xiang Junbo, said the central bank has been undergoing institutional changes. The establishment of the PBOC Shanghai Head Office is an important step to improve the central bank system and to…
Bernanke steps into Greenspan's shoes
Although Ben Bernanke was nominated as Fed chairman this week, he has shown in the past that he isn't a fan of the conservative dress code favoured by central bankers. Bernanke surprised George W Bush by wearing a pair of tan socks with a dark suit to a…
Central bankers welcome Fed nominee
Following Ben Bernanke's nomination to succeed Alan Greenspan as chairman of the Federal Reserve, central bankers were out in force this week to welcome the move.
Interview with RBI governor YV Reddy
In an interview published on Wednesday 26 October, Reserve Bank of India governor Yaga Venugopal Reddy said baby steps are the fashion of the day. Nowadays, in monetary policy, no one takes big steps.
Interview with Ben Bernanke
In an interview published on Tuesday 25 October, but conducted before his nomination to the Fed, Ben Bernanke said that there was so far little reason to fear that the sharp rise in energy prices would feed through into wider inflation.
Interview with ECB's Trichet
ECB President Jean-Claude Trichet said in an interview with Russian newspaper Izvestia this week that the ECB was committed to maintaining steady prices. "As regards our present position, I said in Athens on 6 October that the present interest rate of 2…
Gordon Brown welcomes Bank of England appointment
Following the appointment this week of Sir John Gieve to succeed Sir Andrew Large as Bank of England Deputy Governor for Financial Stability, UK Chancellor Gordon Brown said Sir John brings a wealth of experience to the job.
CBN to lose over 1,000 staff
About 1,040 staff at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) lost their jobs this week following the implementation of the CBN's "Project Eagles" restructuring and re-engineering exercise.
Ivory Coast to keep BCEAO job
The president of the Ivory Coast said on Tuesday 18 October that his country will not relinquish the governorship of the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO).