Governance
IMFC names Tharman Shanmugaratnam as new chair
Singapore’s finance minister and former central bank head succeeds Youssef Boutros-Ghali, Egypt’s former finance minister
Déjà vu and monetary policy: Lockhart’s recent comments
A lack of consideration for price pressures signals that Fed officials continue to misconstrue the nature of central bank independence, Thomas Cargill writes
Fed profits soar to record $82 billion
Federal Reserve posts another record profit, trumping 2010 by $28 billion; $79 billion transferred to Treasury
Barclays shows interest in Maiden Lane II assets: reports
Reports that Barclays may consider an offer for residential mortgage-backed securities held in New York Federal Reserve’s Maiden Lane II portfolio could thwart AIG bid
SNB signs MoU on membership to Bank Council
Federal Department of Finance and the Swiss National Bank sign Memorandum of Understanding on criteria for appointments to central bank’s governing body
Trichet urges rules-based approach to excessive deficit reforms
European Central Bank president Jean-Claude Trichet calls for use of strict rules to adhere to excessive deficit reduction procedure
New York Fed enters the blogosphere
Regional Fed’s research and statistics group project aims for “direct dialogue” with web users
Norges Bank back in black; sovereign fund yields 9.6% return
Norway’s central bank makes a profit in 2010 following 2009 loss; sovereign wealth fund boosted by equity gains
Governor of Lesotho’s central bank dies
Governor of the Central Bank of Lesotho Moeketsi Pius Senaoana passes away
Turkey’s Yilmaz on central banks’ enhanced stability mandates
Central Bank of Turkey governor Durmuş Yilmaz says centralising power for safeguarding stability at central banks places too great a burden on unelected officials
ECB paper on EMU governance reforms
European Central Bank study says Van Rompuy Task Force proposals are essential to euro area governance framework
Lawmakers grill BoE’s court over stability mandate
UK Treasury Committee query whether Bank of England’s Court of Directors is up to the task of monitoring the activities of the Financial Policy Committee
BoE governing body member 'uncomfortable' with King fiscal comments
Bank of England’s Court of Directors member and head of Trades Union Congress Brendan Barber says he is uncomfortable about comments made by governor Mervyn King on fiscal policy
Ex-Brazil governor to head Olympic authority
Former Central Bank of Brazil chief Henrique Meirelles tasked with managing preparations for 2016 games, to be held in Rio
Liikanen gets nod for second term at Bank of Finland
Finnish President Tarja Halonen reappoints Bank of Finland governor Erkki Liikanen for second term; Liikanen seen as still in race for European Central Bank presidency
ECB should beef up research department, look outside the EU, external review says
Independent review of the European Central Bank’s directorate general of research says central bank should expand department to meet heightened post-crisis demand
AIG makes $15.7 billion offer for Maiden Lane II
New York Fed receives formal offer for bailout vehicle containing AIG’s residential mortgage-backed securities portfolio; insurer in bid to reduce debt to Washington
Ex-Fed economist appointed to Ireland’s Central Bank Commission
Former Federal Reserve economist and special adviser to Ireland’s outgoing finance minister Alan Ahearne appointed to Central Bank of Ireland’s commission
Libya’s Bengdara in Istanbul: report
Central Bank of Libya governor Farhat Bengdara reportedly confirms relocation to Istanbul as unrest continues; more central bank targeted sanctions possible
Buba’s Weber to return to academia
Bundesbank president Axel Weber to teach at University of Chicago in June following departure from central bank
Nobel Prizewinner not right for Fed: key Republican senator
Senate Banking Committee ranking member Richard Shelby sets out reasons underpinning party’s repeated rejection of Nobel Prizewinner Peter Diamond for Fed board seat