Governance
France confirms Cœuré as ECB nominee
Finance ministry puts Benoît Cœuré forward as nominee to replace Bini Smaghi on European Central Bank’s executive board; firm favourite choice confirmed
National Bank of Hungary takes swipe at government
Central bank rejects cabinet selection of official to attend meetings on foreign currency loan problems in Hungary; sign of continued poor relationship
Delawari nominated as governor in Afghanistan
Afghan president Hamid Karzai proposes reappointment of Noorullah Delawari as governor of Bank of Afghanistan; last governor fled the country in fear of life
Iran appoints first female deputy governor
Iranian central bank governor appoints woman as deputy governor; takes on role of trying to stabilise fluctuating currency market in the country as sanctions are discussed worldwide
Liikanen predicts emerging market over-take in 2013
Bank of Finland governor sees emerging economies overtaking developed as soon as 2013; Bank of Finland renews terms of two key central bank figures
US senator renews call for ‘crippling’ sanctions on Central Bank of Iran
Senator Mark Kirk wants foreign financial institutions conducting transactions through the Central Bank of Iran to see access to US financial system cut off, and their US-based assets blocked
Central bank intervention in credit markets threatens independence, says Fed's Lacker
Richmond Federal Reserve president Jeffrey Lacker says intervention in credit markets diminishes central bank autonomy; CentralBanking.com poll suggests otherwise
IMF’s European director Antonio Borges quits
Director of European department, Antonio Borges, steps down for personal reasons; succeeded by strategy director Reza Moghadam in shake-up at Fund
Turkey and Nigeria in talks with China about currency swaplines
Governors of relevant central banks confirm Republic of Turkey and Nigeria are both in negotiations with the People’s Bank of China regarding currency swaplines
Central Bank of Egypt denies involvement in illicit money transfer
Central Bank of Egypt says it did not participate in the transfer of funds abroad pertaining to former leader Hosni Mubarak
ECCB disposes stake in former Stanford bank
Eastern Caribbean Central Bank sells assets from seized Bank of Antigua to Eastern Caribbean Amalgamated Bank
Israel Administrative Council holds first meeting
Bank of Israel holds first Administrative Council meeting after lengthy delay in appointing external members
Zambia governance void continues
Bank of Zambia website lists every position on the board of directors as “vacant”; still no new governor after Caleb Fundanga was fired
When private shares meet public interest
Jannie Rossouw and Adèle Breytenbach look at a unique group of central banks: the eight that are privately owned.
Interview: Alan Bollard
The governor of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand discusses the fallout from the financial crisis with Blair Baker.
Lorenzo Bini Smaghi to leave the ECB
Lorenzo Bini Smaghi will join Harvard University’s Center for International Affairs in January; ends term at ECB more than a year early
Papademos confirmed as Greek prime minister
Former ECB vice-president chosen as prime minister in new coalition government; news received well as stock market jumps
Plosser pushes for adoption of explicit inflation target
Philadelphia Federal Reserve president Charles Plosser calls for Fed to introduce explicit inflation-targeting framework
Central banks at risk of losing independence: SNB’s Jordan
Swiss National Bank vice-chairman Thomas Jordan says contribution to quasi-fiscal policy measures can lead to gradual loss of independence
Treasury Committee recommends overhaul of Bank’s Court
Treasury Committee report says Bank of England Court should be replaced by new supervisory board to provide leaner and more expert review of policies
Korea governor selection process under fire
Politician takes on president’s ability to choose governor of the central bank board; wants to see candidates face parliamentary confirmation hearings
Papademos flies to Athens as Greece decides on new leader
Former European Central Bank vice-president Lucas Papademos rushes to Athens as Greek officials discuss leadership choice for new coalition government
ECB’s González-Páramo calls for more stringent EU fiscal policy
European Central Bank executive board member José Manuel González-Páramo urges eurozone governments to conduct fiscal policy with clear medium-term objectives