News
E-day countdown - ECB ad campaign to roll 1 Sept
GERMANY - European Central Bank chiefs begin their annual break this week knowing that when they return from their holidays the push to make the euro a reality in the lives of millions of Europeans must begin in earnest.
Philippine Ctrl Bk mulls hiking liquidity reserves
PHILIPPINES - The Philippine Central Bank is considering hiking anew the liquidity reserve requirement of commercial banks to help boost the ailing peso.
Austrians 'underestimate' euro
AUSTRIA - According to a survey published on 3 August, the euro is not an issue for most Austrians. A majority of 62 per cent have not or almost not informed themselves on the new currency, only 13 per cent consider themselves as "very interested" in the…
OFT to become payments systems regulator
UK - Competition watchdog - UK treasury believes new powers will cut £1bn 'excess profits' made by banks.
Hungary's National Bank appoints deputy presidents
HUNGARY - The National Bank of Hungary has appointed Henrik Auth and Peter Adamecz as deputy presidents.
Why the Bank changed its mind
UK - Mervyn King will have some explaining to do when he presents the Bank of England's inflation report next week writes the FT in London, 3 August.
Myanmar introduces measures to stabilise currency
MYANMAR - Deciding to dine out in Myanmar will no longer be a headache of currency proportions for many diners in the country, reports Channel News Asia.
Argentina's Blejer to become central bank VP
ARGENTINA - Mario Blejer, a former International Monetary Fund economist and top aide to Economy Minister Domingo Cavallo, will become vice president of the country's Central Bank, an official at the monetary authority confirmed on 2 August.
Chicago Fed: Recession risks rising
US - The risk that the U.S. economy is in a recession rose in June to its highest level this year, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago said on 2 August as it released its monthly index of U.S. economic activity.
Surprise cut in UK interest rates
UK - The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has cut interest rates by 0.25%.
Bank of England committee reduces interest rates
UK - Bank of England Reduces Interest Rates by 0.25% to 5.0%
ECB press release - Interest rates unchanged
EUROPE - The European Central Bank has left all its key interest rates unchanged following its governing council meeting this morning.
New deputy governor to South African Reserve Bank
SOUTH AFRICA - The South African Reserve Bank has appointed Dr Xolile Pallo Guma as its new deputy governor.
Hungary aims to introduce euro in 2006
HUNGARY - The government expects that Hungary will introduce the euro as its currency as of 1 January 2006, Zsigmond Jarai, head of the National Bank of Hungary (MNB) said at a business conference on 26 July.
Prizes of Romanian central bank for 2001
ROMANIA - The Romanian Central Bank awarded on 31 July its prizes for the year 2001 to prominent figures in the economic and cultural life, who, through their scientific activity and their exceptional original works, made an important contribution and…
Chief to IMF office in Seoul
SOUTH KOREA - Paul Grunwald has been appointed as chief of the IMF office in Seoul, South Korea.
Politician says Koizumi agrees to ask BOJ to ease
JAPAN - Senior ruling Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker Hideyuki Aizawa said 1 August he and Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi agreed on the need to call for the Bank of Japan to ease further.
Bank set to defy rate cut calls
UK - The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is widely expected to leave UK interest rates unchanged, despite a mixed picture for the British economy. The MPC began its monthly meeting today, 1 August, and is due to reveal its interest rate…
Hungarian bank says June deficit was misprint
HUNGARY - The National Bank of Hungary said on 1 August that the figure of EUR129.2 million for the June current account deficit, published in its quarterly inflation report 1 August, was a misprint.
Lebanon needs stable currency - Bank governor
LEBANON - A stable currency is needed for successful privatisation of state-owned companies, Banque du Liban (Central Bank of Lebanon) Governor Riad Salameh said on 30 July.
Armenia's top officials must declare their income
ARMENIA - The Armenian parliament has passed a law on the declaration of income and property by high-ranking officials, including the central bank, in Armenia.
New currency law not seen hurting Russian reserves
RUSSIA - The reduction in the amount of hard currency companies are obliged to exchange for roubles is not expected to have a major impact on the forex market nor prevent the central bank from building up it foreign currency reserves, dealers said on 31…
Manila c bank says no need to print more money
PHILIPPINES - There was no danger that monetary authorities would be forced to print more money to pay for government debts, Philippine central bank governor Rafael Buenaventura said on 31 July.
World Bank names two new country directors
US - The World Bank yesterday, 30 July, named two new country directors for Thailand and the Philippines.