News
ECB reluctant to promote euro's global role
GREECE - European Central Bank executive board member Tommaso Padoa-Schioppa said on 25 June that the ECB is unlikely to actively promote the international role of the single currency.
Blair meets Prodi to discuss euro
ARTICLE - Tony Blair, the UK Prime Minister, held an hour-long breakfast meeting on 25 June to discuss the single currency with Romano Prodi, president of the European Commission.
World Bank internet success
US - Nearly two thousand people have logged on to the World Bank's online conference on development economics.
Regulator unveils Japan bank stock buying fund
JAPAN - Japan's top financial regulator on 26 June unveiled plans for a fund to soak up massive amounts of shares owned by banks to cut their exposure to an uncertain stock market, giving Japan's economic reforms a nudge forward.
World Bank conference goes online
US - The World Bank is to host its annual conference on development economics on the internet on 25 June.
Long hols for Bank of England staff
UK - Following the introduction of a new terms and conditions package, staff at the Bank of England can now enjoy up to eight weeks annual leave. Staff at the Bank have always enjoyed generous benefits packages, however the many different schemes…
Bahrain grants licences to two financial houses
BAHRAIN - Bahrain has granted licences to two financial houses to operate from the Gulf Arab state, the Bahrain Monetary Agency (BMA), the island state's central bank, said on 25 June.
Putin signs federal banking law in Russia
RUSSIA - President Putin signed the Federal laws "on amendments to the law on banks and banking" and "on amendments to article N73 of the federal law on the Central Bank of Russia.
Monetary council member resigns in Hungary
HUNGARY - Professor Janos Kornai, one of Hungary's most prominent economists, has announced his resignation from his position on the monetary council of the National Bank of Hungary (MNB).
Macedonia bank has new model for market prognoses
MACEDONIA - The National Bank of Macedonia (NBM) has developed a new econometric model for macroeconomic prognoses and for simulation of some market movements to judge on their effect.
Basel II - Feedback to the Committee
The Basel Committee received over 230 comments on its January 2001 draft capital accord. All of these are posted on the Committee's website - we pick out some of hte notable comments.
India's central bank issues Net banking guidelines
INDIA - Only banks licensed in India and operating a domestic branch network will be allowed to offer Internet banking in the country, according to guidelines finalised last week by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
Thai central bank calls meeting on forex rules
THAILAND - The Bank of Thailand (BOT) said on 21 June it would hold a meeting on Monday (25 June) with the Thai Bankers Association to seek members' views on streamlining reporting rules for non-residents trading the Thai baht.
Indonesia set on sacking central bank board
Indonesia - Indonesia on 21 June insisted on going ahead with the controversial sacking of the central bank board but was prepared to add to a revised law on Bank Indonesia (BI) to ensure its independence.
Sri Lanka modernises central bank with support
SRI LANKA - Sri Lanka will boost the effectiveness of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) with support from a US$30.3 million credit just announced by the World Bank. The Central Bank Strengthening Project provides resources and technical assistance to…
Argentina links to euro
ARGENTINA - The Argentine Senate has approved a new law that will fix its currency to the euro as well as to the dollar.
Court confirms validity of Tuma as CNB head
CZECH REPUBLIC - The Czech Constitutional Court on 20 June confirmed the validity of President Vaclav Havel's appointment of Zdenek Tuma as Czech National Bank (CNB) governor and Ludek Niedermeyer as vice governor.
Chancellor cautious on early UK euro entry
UK - Gordon Brown, UK Chancellor of the Exchequer, gave a cautious welcome to UK entry to the euro at his mansion house speech on 20 June.
Eichel supports ECB's Duisenberg
GERMANY - German Finance Minister Hans Eichel has lent his support to the European Central Bank's oft-criticized president, Wim Duisenberg, German business newspaper reported on 21 June.
Hungarian parliament passes new central bank act
HUNGARY - The Hungarian parliament passed the new Central Bank Act late evening of 19 June. The new act relegates supervisory authority over the National Bank of Hungary (MNB) to the State Audit Office (ASZ), and replaces the current central bank council…
Single currency for NZ and Aus
NEW ZEALAND - Economists at a Sydney forum discussed a shared currency for New Zealand and Australia on 20 June.
Friedman issues euro warning
US - Top US economist Milton Friedman believes Europe was wrong to introduce the single European currency and predicts it will lead to a raft of economic problems for the region.
Argentina's new measures to combat recession
ARGENTINA - Argentina is preparing to implement it's latest package of measures aimed at wresting the country out of a three-year recession and staving off a potential debt default.
Protest fear forces World Bank switch
SPAIN - The World Bank has decided to hold an annual development conference in cyberspace after protesters threatened to disrupt the event.