News/Monetary Policy
No major CPI impact from Euro intro
GERMANY - Germany's Federal Statistics Office said 5 September that the first results of a survey of retail prices don't so far show any significant impact on consumer prices from the euro's introduction.
Reserve Bank of Australia - Press release
PRESS RELEASE - Statement by the governor, Mr Ian MacFarlane - Monetary Policy 5 September.
Noyer: New Rate Level In Line With Price Stability
FRANCE - European Central Bank Vice President Christian Noyer Thursday 6 Sep hailed the euro's strengthening trend over the past several weeks, while at the same time downplaying its fall back below $0.90 this week.
More low-value euro notes for German retailers
GERMANY - Germany may need to print more low-denomination euro banknotes sooner than expected in response to high demand from retailers, Ernst Welteke, the Bundesbank president, said yesterday, 3 September.
ECB Press Conference - Questions and answers
On the occasion of the unveiling of the euro banknotes and their security features, Frankfurt. Transcript of the questions asked and the answers given by Dr. Willem F. Duisenberg, President of the ECB, and Prof. Dr. Eugenio Domingo Solans, Member of the…
Australia lowers interest rates
AUSTRALIA - The Reserve Bank of Australia sliced interest rates by one-quarter percentage point on 5 September to offset weakening global economic activity and despite higher-than-forecast inflation.
Vajpayee plans economic boost for India
INDIA - Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee has unveiled a plan to revive his country's slowing economy with fresh reforms.
Philippines C bank move to raise bank transparency
PHILIPPINES - The Philippine central bank will soon issue additional disclosure requirements to make banks more transparent, while encouraging more foreign participation in the local banking sector, said central bank deputy governor Alberto Reyes.
Indonesia's 2002 budget to be drained by debt
INDONESIA - Indonesia will unveil on 7 September a draft budget constrained by a mountain of debt that has left President Megawati Sukarnoputri's government with barren coffers and few options to prove it can fix the shattered economy.
Sharp rise in public fears over euro price hikes
BELGIUM - Governments in the 12-nation eurozone were given a stark warning yesterday about growing public concern that January's changeover to euro notes and coins will be exploited for unfair price rises.
Banks get set for euro clearing
UK - The financial system took a significant step towards readiness for the single currency yesterday when the £300bn-a-day clearing system moved on to a euro-compatible platform.
NBU recommends quick euro change
UKRAINE - The National Bank of Ukraine is recommending that commercial banks quickly get rid of the national currencies of the member-countries of the European Currency Union in favour of the euro.
New euro notes and coins are on the move in europe
GERMANY - Finance Minister Hans Eichel told disbelieving Germans visiting his ministry on 2 September that the euro was stronger than the German mark in its relationship with other currencies.
ECB board members defend interest rate cut
SPAIN - European central bankers on 31 August said the ECB's decision to cut interest rates was based on receding inflationary pressures and rejected criticism the bank had waited too long to stimulate the Continent's flagging economy.
Belgian bank to start coin-collecting soon
BELGIUM - The Belgian National Bank (BNB) and the Belgian General Commission for the euro will launch a coin-collecting operation from October 15, 2001 to November 15, 2001, during which Belgians will be able to exchange coins for euro.
Summary of the latest opinion polls on EMU
UK - Euro zone citizens are becoming more aware the euro will replace national currencies in 2002 but are also growing more concerned about possible price rises, according to a European Commission survey published on 3 September.
Japanese prices spiral downwards
JAPAN - Japan's economic gloom has deepened further with news that consumer prices fell in July for the 22nd straight month.
ECB cuts interest rates
EUROPE - The European Central Bank has cut interest rates by a quarter of a point to 4.25%.
ECB press release - Monetary policy decisions
At today's meeting the Governing Council of the ECB took the following monetary policy decisions:
Domingo Solans - Mass media campaign
EURO - Domingo Solans: Press conference on the occasion of the unveiling of the euro banknotes and their security features. Presentation of the mass media campaign including a brief overview of the Euro 2002 Information Campaign, Frankfurt, 30 August.
Domingo Solans - Euro notes and security features
EURO - Domingo Solans: Press conference on the occasion of the unveiling of the euro banknotes and their security features. Introductory remarks on the euro banknotes and their security features, Frankfurt, 30 August.
The unveiling of euro banknotes - Duisenberg
EURO - Wim Duisenberg: Press conference on the occasion of the unveiling of the euro banknotes and their security features. Introductory statement, Frankfurt, 30 August.
Japan moves closer to recession
JAPAN - Steep falls in industrial production and retail sales in July have pushed Japan closer to official recession, figures showed on 30 August.
Countdown to euro cash
EUROPE - The European Central Bank begins its campaign today, 30 August, to persuade the 300 million citizens of the eurozone to recognise - and love - their new currency.