News
UK's MPC voted 9-0 for unchanged rates in November
The Bank of England's monetary policy committee (MPC) voted unanimously for a second month running in November to leave interest rates unchanged at 6%.
Russia central bank to develop smart card market
Sergei Mikhailov, deputy director of the information systems department of the central bank, has announced that the bank is interested in developing the smart card market.
Liquidity gridlock feared from Japan's RTGS launch
Japan's introduction of real time settlement for stock and bond transactions may expose banks and brokerages to a temporary liquidity gridlock that could force some to reduce yen-based operations, bankers said on Wednesday.
Credit Suisse says RBNZ won't change cash rate
New Zealand's Reserve Bank is expected to leave the official cash rate unchanged early next month because of uncertainty about the country's medium-term inflation outlook, Credit Suisse First Boston (NZ) Ltd. said Wednesday.
Wahid won't interfere with Bank Indonesia
Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid will not interfere in negotiations over changes to the law governing the central bank, his spokesman said on Wednesday.
BOJ voted 8-1 to maintain policy on Oct 13-minutes
The Bank of Japan (BOJ) Policy Board voted 8-1 to maintain its policy of targeting the unsecured overnight call rate at 0.25 percent at a meeting on October 13, minutes from the meeting showed on Wednesday.
Fiji 2001 budget forecasts slow economic recovery
Fiji's post-coup government on Wednesday delivered its calendar 2001 budget, predicting a slow recovery in the South Pacific nation's economy which has been battered by a nationalist coup and failed military mutiny. The central bank has predicted that…
Indonesia regulators seek banking consolidation
Indonesia might close or merge more than 100 banks within three years in its battle to create a strong financial system, the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency said.
Brussels raises Eurozone inflation forecast
The European Commission revised upwards its inflation forecasts for the euro-zone and said European economic growth, though relatively strong, was unlikely to equal US growth until 2002.
Economists hit Malaysia's dollar peg
Malaysia should get rid of its currency peg to the dollar and fix the exchange rate to a trade-weighted basket of currencies instead, said several economists speaking at a conference in Kuala Lumpur.
Indonesia central bank reform highly politicised
Messy and highly politicised attempts to revamp Indonesia's central bank are the latest blow to stumbling efforts to resurrect a battered economy. Economists and banking sources said the attempts to resolve a huge loan controversy centred on the bank…
BOJ commits to Jan 4 real-time settlement launch
Bank of Japan governor Masaru Hayami said on Tuesday the central bank would stick with the January 4 launch date for its real-time gross settlement (RTGS) system for government debt and money market transactions.
Philippine economy seen growing 4% in 2000
The Philippines' central bank said on Tuesday the economy may post four percent growth year-on-year in the third quarter, backed by a strong performance by the agriculture sector. Central bank deputy governor Armando Tetangco cited the 3.49% growth in…
Fraga welcomes BSCH bid for Banespa bank
Spain's Banco Santander Central Hispano was the surprise high bidder for Banespa yesterday, claiming Brazil's state bank for an unexpectedly high US$3.6bn. Arminio Fraga, Brazil's central bank president, welcomed the bid.
Taiwan BoP suffers from capital flight
After eight quarters in surplus, Taiwan's balance of international payments fell into deficit territory in the third quarter of this year as the result of a sharp fall in the capital account, the Central Bank of China revealed yesterday.
Second Nicaraguan bank collapses
Nicaragua is facing a crisis in its fragile financial system after the regulator moved to take over the second bank to fail in the past 100 days, and attacked the government for refusing to guarantee its customers' deposits.
Russia and IMF disagree over forex reserves
The Russian government is hoping to resume its talks with the International Monetary Fund in the middle of December, a source close to the talks told the Russian news agency Interfax on Tuesday.
Investors await Eqypt's exchange rate policy
Domestic and foreign investors in Egypt are waiting for some sign from the monetary authorities on a new exchange rate policy nearly two months after the country abandoned a long-standing fixed peg against the dollar.
Venezuela preparing interest rate measures
Venezuela's central bank is considering measures to limit the spread between commercial banks' lending and deposit interest rates, as part of a new banking law being drafted for decree by President Hugo Chavez.
Australian dollar falls to 17 year low
The tide of global foreign exchange markets has turned against the Australian dollar again with the local currency falling to a record 17 year low.
CBR auditor to be chosen on November 24
The Russian State Duma will name an auditor for the Central Bank of Russia for 2000 on November 24.The contenders are Deloitte & Touche and the PriceWaterhouseCoopers - FBK tandem.
Romania's foreign debt increases this year
Romania's foreign debt has increased in the first three quarters of 2000 by 1.5% compared with the end of 1999, reaching $9.2bn, Romania's central bank said.
Iran's Bank Melli to open branch in Moscow
Iran's Bank Melli will soon open a branch in Moscow with a capital of over $10m, Central Bank of Iran governor Mohsen Nurbakhsh said in a meeting with his Russian counterpart Viktor Gerashchenko.
Ghana to be HQ of West African Monetary Institute
Ghana has been selected as the location for the headquarters of the West African Monetary Institute that is to work towards the establishment of a West African Central Bank.