Monetary Policy
Sweden needs stabilising tool for euro entry-union
SWEDEN - Swedish membership of the euro is not desirable unless there is a tool to stabilise the economy which would compensate for the loss of national monetary policy, the country's biggest trade union group said on 10 July.
Brazil currency weaker as Argentina worries
BRAZIL - Brazil's currency weakened by about 1.7 percent by noon 10 July as concern over Argentina and its attempts to sell new debt undercut attempts by the Central Bank to prop up the embattled real.
CentralBankNet's Special Report on the euro
ARTICLE - To join or not to join? The euro issue is proving to be deeply divisive and so far the UK government is resisting calls for a serious debate on the subject but uncertainty could prove to be costly to sterling and the economy.
Taiwan premier issues 5 point directive to c bank
TAIWAN - Taiwanese Premier Chang Chun-hsiung has issued a five-point directive to the Central Bank of China (CBC), urging it to help revitalise the sagging economy and speed up financial reform.
Singapore MAS shifts policy statement to 12 July
SINGAPORE - The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) said it is postponing the release of its annual report and a widely anticipated monetary policy statement by a day to Thursday, 12 July.
Euro € - Portugal says it won't print large notes
PORTUGAL - Portugal's central bank has rejected printing the largest denomination euro notes because it believes people will shun them, a spokesman said on 9 July.
Pakistan to auction T-bills worth one bln rupees
PAKISTAN - Pakistan's central bank will auction one billion rupees ($15.62 million) worth of three-, six-and 12-month treasury bills from 10 July, the State Bank of Pakistan said. Tender results will be announced on 11 July.
Yoshikuni to be named special adviser to BIS
JAPAN - The Bank for International Settlements has decided to appoint Shinichi Yoshikuni, a former Bank of Japan official, as special adviser to the Basel-based institution, it was learned 9 July.
China regulates on-line banking
CHINA - The People's Bank of China (PBOC), China's central bank, on 9 July launched a provisional method for regulating on-line banking.
Bank of Israel displeased with monetary panel plan
ISRAEL - The Bank of Israel is "not very happy" about government plans to appoint a monetary council to set interest rates, which would end Governor David Klein's position as sole policy maker, a central bank source said.
Postal bank launch held up by control issue
CHINA - Expectations of the kick-off of the much-heralded Postal Savings Bank are premature, both the People's Bank of China (PBOC) and the State Postal Bureau reveal.
US recession risk rose in May - Chicago Fed index
US - The recession risk for the U.S. economy increased to its highest point this year in May, according to an index released by the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago on 5 July.
Banking on capital punishment
SPEECH - Roderick M Carr, Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand to the New Zealand Association of Economists, Christchurch, 27 June.
ECB Press Release - Euro frontloading
EUROPE - The European Central Bank issued a press release 5 July titled Frontloading of euro banknotes to central banks outside the euro area.
ECB Press Conference
EUROPE - Introductory statement Willem F. Duisenberg, President of the European Central Bank, Christian Noyer, Vice-President of the European Central Bank, Frankfurt am Main, 5 July, with a transcript of the questions and answers.
Sluggish IT seriously affecting overall economy
SOUTH KOREA - A long-lasting slowdown in the nation's information and technology (IT) industry has been dealing a serious blow to the nation's exports, imports and current account balance as well as production in the manufacturing industry.
Beware of Dr. Green and Mr. Span
US - Some pretty smart people are warning about the danger of playing with interest rates, comparing the nation's central bankers to Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Call these critics the Alan Greenspan bashers, writes the Economist magazine 5 July.
Bank of England leaves interest rates unchanged
UK - The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has left UK interest rates unchanged for the second month in a row. The committee concluded their two day meeting on 5 July. The Bank's base rate remains at 5.25%.
European interest rates held steady
EUROPE - The European Central Bank (ECB) has left eurozone interest rates unchanged for the second month in a row. Their main refinancing rate remains at 4.5%.
Stanley Fischer - Argentine Bankers Association
SPEECH - Stanley Fischer, First Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund has spoken at the Argentine Bankers Association Meeting Buenos Aires, 25 June.
Consumer protection and the banking industry
SPEECH - Joseph Yam, JP, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, at the Hong Kong Association of Banks' Half-Yearly Dinner, Hong Kong, 19 June.
IMF reach compromise over central bank law changes
INDONESIA - Indonesia appears to be making some headway in its efforts to get fresh loans from the International Monetary Fund.
Interest rate decisions due
EUROPE - The European Central Bank and the Bank of England will both, separately, make their latest interest rate decisions tomorrow, 5 July. Neither is expected to cut rates further.
Taiwan sets up blue-ribbon economic committee
TAIWAN - Taiwan paved the way on 4 July for a multi-party task force to advise how to boost the island's faltering economy, a presidential aide said.