Central Banks
Russian banker predicts 'not easy' year
Uncertainty about the restructuring of Russia's debt to the Paris Club of creditors might entail changes in Russia's fiscal and credit policy in 2001, said central bank first deputy chairman Tatyana Paramonova.
Cote d'Ivoire urges UEMOA solidarity
Ivorian commerce and industry minister, Bohoun Bouabre, has called for greater cooperation among the eight-nation West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA).
Reserve Bank of India rules out rates cut
The Reserve Bank of India Saturday admitted that the cost of borrowing is high, but ruled out a rate cut during this fiscal year as it has already softened.
Sudan central bank governor outlines fiscal policy
Governor of the Bank of Sudan Dr Sabir Muhammad al-Hasan Saturday held a press conference in the presence of the commercial banks' directors at which he reviewed the monetary and financial policies for the year 2001.
Castellanos views interest rates, currency band
Venezuela's central bank president Diego Luis Castellanos announced today that the institution would not impose controls over private banking interest rates.
BOJ board keeps monetary policy unchanged
The Bank of Japan said on Friday its policy board decided to continue its policy of driving the key overnight call rate to 0.25%, a decision widely expected by financial markets. The decision was by a majority vote.
Fed unlikely to cut rates - Washington Post
Faced with slowing economic growth and an uncertain short-term economic outlook, a number of Federal Reserve officials have concluded that the risk of serious weakness in the economy is as great as the risk that inflation will get worse, the Washington…
Dariusz Rosati defends Poland's monetary policy
Dariusz Rosati, former finance minister and member of the central bank's monetary policy council (RPP), responded in a recent issue of the current affairs weekly Polityka to a critical article by Professor Andrzej Sopocko. Edited excerpts follow.
Interview: State Bank of Vietnam's Le Duc Thuy
Vietnam's central bank governor Le Duc Thuy discussed plans to develop the country's banking system in an interview with the local Sai Gon Giai Phong (Liberation Saigon) Daily newspaper.
Hayami says to supply ample funds for RTGS start
Bank of Japan governor Masaru Hayami said on Friday the central bank would supply ample funds to the money market to prepare for the adoption of the Real-Time Gross Settlement system on January 4.
HKMA concerned about US economic slowdown risk
The head of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, one of the world's largest holders of foreign exchange, said he remained apprehensive about the risk of a downturn in the US economy, according to the Friday overseas edition of the Financial Times.
W. African Eco and Mon. Union summit ends in Mali
The fifth summit meeting of the West African Economic and Monetary Union [UEMOA] ended in Bamako this afternoon.
BoE article on oversight of payment systems
The Bank of England's paper on the oversight of payment systems is published in its latest Financial Stability Review.
Complete glossary of payment systems terminology
The Committee on Payment and Settlement Systems at the Bank for International Settlements has just published a comprehensive glossary of payment system terminology as a reference document for the standard terms used in connection with payment and…
ECB keeps M3 benchmark unchanged
The European Central Bank has decided to leave its yardstick for euro area money supply growth unchanged. After the governing council meeting today, the ECB said that the evidence continues to support the assumptions underlying the derivation of the…
New EU treaty paves way for ECB voting change
The European Union's Nice treaty calls for a review of how votes are taken on the ECB's governing council, but does not provide for amending its composition, a draft text obtained by journalists on Wednesday said.
Interview with Nancy Stokey - The Region
Nancy Stokey and her University of Chicago colleague and partner, Nobel Laureate Robert E. Lucas Jr., chose to spend a semester's sabbatical at the Minneapolis Fed this autumn. Arthur Rolnick, the Minneapolis Fed's director of Research, took this…
Back From The Brink: The Greenspan Years
Journalist Steven Beckner, who has covered monetary policy since the beginning of the Greenspan years, has written a useful book that goes beyond the regular elliptical utterances of the Fed chairman. Reviewed by Kevin L. Kliesen, Economist, Federal…
Venezuela to slow bolivar depreciation in 2001
Venezuela's central bank will announce a slower depreciation rate of the bolivar currency and possibly a new central parity rate within the next two weeks, senior bank officials said Thursday.
Zimbabwe: Interest rates drop as inflation falls
This article is from Zimbabwe's Financial Gazette said that a surprise fall in Zimbabwe's inflation rate should be viewed a temporary. The subsequent reductions in interest rates by the central bank are therefore short-term, says the article.
Spanish inflation sticks at 5-yr high in November
Spanish inflation rose to 4.1% annually in November, stuck around a near five-year high amid fears of a price-wage spiral and a civil sector protest over loss of purchasing power.
S. Korea to end certain exchange controls in 2001
The South Korean government will end restrictions on the amount of foreign currency travellers can take out next year, but those who carry more than US$50,000 should first secure Bank of Korea approval, the finance and economy ministry said Thursday.
Economists agree-Bush should befriend Greenspan
This article by Jacob M. Schlesinger from the Wall Street Journal says that the new US president, George W Bush, should learn to cultivating the US Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan.
Bank of France predicts robust growth
Despite growing signs of a slowdown in the U.S. and sputtering growth in Germany, the French economy remains remarkably robust, economists say.