Monetary Policy
Fed anthrax scare proves false alarm
An anthrax scare at a Washington post office involving a letter destined for the Federal Reserve proved to be a false alarm, the Federal Reserve said.
Argentina defaults on IADB loan
Argentina said on Wednesday it could not repay a loan to the Inter-American Development Bank on time, adding the Washington-based multilateral lender to the growing list of institutions to which it has defaulted.
Yugoslav central bank chief complains of pressure
The National Bank of Yugoslavia Governor Mladjan Dinkic has spoken at a news conference about the economic problems associated with the position of the bank in the constitutional charter for Serbia and Montenegro.
Report names possible replacements for Hamalainen
A German newspaper has named two women as favourites in the race to succeed Sirkka Hamalainen on the Executive Board of the European Central Bank.
Minutes of Japan's Monetary Policy Meeting
MINUTES - Minutes of the Bank of Japan's Monetary Policy Meeting on 18 and 19 November 2002, released 20 December. The nine member Policy Board considered that it was appropriate to maintain the current guideline for money market operations. Private…
Minutes of Japan's Monetary Policy Meeting
MINUTES - Minutes of the Bank of Japan's Monetary Policy Meeting on 30 October 2002, released 20 December. Consumer prices continued to decline by slightly less than 1 percent year on year. The pace of year-on-year decline in the Consumer Price Index…
Parry on policymaking in a global context
SPEECH - In the speech 'Policymaking in a Global Context' Robert Parry of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco said given the growing interdependence of national economies and macroeconomic policies, it has become increasingly important to pay…
IMF Press Release
PRESS RELEASE - Argentina: Press Statement following Article IV Consultation, 8 January.
IMF Working Paper
RESEARCH - The IMF Working Paper "Monetary Union in West Africa: Who Might Gain, Who Might Lose, and Why?" published December 2002 concludes that it would not be in the interests of other ECOWAS countries to enter into a monetary union with Nigeria…
Dutch legislator calls for Duisenberg's sacking
European Central Bank President Wim Duisenberg should be fired because he supports his wife Gretta's anti-Israel positions and embrace of Yasser Arafat, a leading Dutch parliamentarian visiting Jerusalem has said.
ECB council member sees no need for rate move
European Central Bank Governing Council member Ernst Welteke has indicated that he's happy with the present level of euro-zone interest rates.
Nigerian sleaze hits Africa's single currency plan
Officials at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have warned West African nations against creating a single currency, over fears that Nigerian involvement would undermine its credibility.
Japan's Takenaka seeks new relationship with BOJ
Japan's Economics and Financial Services Minister, Heizo Takenaka, said on Wednesday a new relationship is needed between his government and the Bank of Japan for a common goal on policy targets.
Anthrax feared in Federal Reserve letter
A facility that handles government mail is undergoing precautionary testing for anthrax after a test on mail at the Federal Reserve indicated the potential presence of the deadly anthrax bacteria.
Bank blamed as forint hits upper limit vs euro
Hungary's central bank was under fire Tuesday for its high interest rate policy after the national currency, the forint, rose to the upper limit of its trading band against the euro.
Volcker airs concerns about volatility of ex rates
Former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker voiced concern Monday that too little attention is paid to the volatility of exchange rates. He also said the US economy had left itself exposed as to whether a future correction of the current account deficit…
Speech by Professor Otmar Issing of the ECB
SPEECH - Topic of the Year, Mitglied des Direktoriums der Europaischen Zentralbank. Closing address at the "Topic of the Year" organised by the Group of 20 + 1 in Frankfurt, by Professor Otmar Issing, Frankfurt am Main, 13 January 2003. Text only…
Bies on North American monetary policy
SPEECH - In the speech Susan Bies of the Federal Reserve said instruments of monetary policy have changed in significant ways. In the US and some other countries, money and credit aggregates have played an especially important role as monetary policy…
Ferguson on financial engineering and stability
SPEECH - In the speech 'Financial Engineering and Financial Stability' Roger Ferguson of the Federal Reserve said discusses dynamic hedging of mortgages, risk measurement systems such as value-at-risk, and credit derivatives all examples of newer risk…
Olson on banking opportunities in Indian country
SPEECH - In the speech 'Overcoming Challenges and Seizing Opportunities in Indian Country' Mark Olson of the Federal Reserve said the importance of seeking banking opportunities to foster economic development in Indian Country is underscored by the…
Sveriges Riksbank Press Release
PRESS RELEASE - Distribution of work in the Executive Board, 9 January.
Swiss revolt
ARTICLE - There is talk a Socialist (the first ever) might join the three-man team manning the Swiss National Bank, reported an article on Tuesday.
Outsiders may fill vacuum at top of Bank of Canada
The Bank of Canada, facing a top-level retirement and the departure of its cost-cutting number two, may have to look at outside nominees to bring its management team back up to strength, analysts said on Monday.
Fed's Guynn: Probability of deflation 'very low'
Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta President Jack Guynn said Monday the U.S. faces little chances of falling into the same deflationary trap that has ensnared Japan. His comments are broadly in line with many central bankers who have spoken in recent months…