Asia-Pacific
Foreign exchange reserves in emerging Asia
The Bank of Canada Working Paper "An empirical analysis of foreign exchange reserves in emerging Asia" published December 2005 asks how far is the current level of US-dollar foreign exchange reserves held by Asian central banks from that predicted by the…
When will Asian central banks buy into gold?
This article published on Friday 2 December asks what would happen to the gold market if central banks in Asia decided to follow the recent trend and increase their gold reserves?
Hedge funds bet Asia will boost gold reserves
According to this article published on Tuesday 29 November, hedge funds, after sending the gold price to an 18-year high, are looking to China and other Asian central banks as the next big drivers of the precious metal.
Bernanke for Asia? Mundell seems to think so
According to this article published on Thursday 24 Novemver, even before Ben Bernanke is confirmed as the next chairman of the Fed, a Nobel-winning economist has come up with a plan that seeks to make Alan Greenspan's successor the monetary boss of Asia…
ECB's Trichet on Eurasia: Bull meets tiger
In the speech 'Eurasia: Bull meets tiger - Panel III - Financial markets: Shared responsibility' given on 18 November Jean-Claude Trichet of the ECB said the experiences of Europe and the Asia-Pacific region with regard to regional surveillance present…
Weber on challenges to the global economy
In the speech 'Challenges to the global economy' given on 18 November Axel Weber of the Deutsche Bundesbank said greater currency flexibility in parts of Asia is essential for resolving global economic imbalances whereas structural reform in Europe would…
Comment: Banking in the Caspian and Central Asia
The former USSR countries in the Caspian and Central Asia have been independent for nearly 15 years, but economic setbacks in the 1990s have meant that significant growth and development are fairly recent phenomena. We take a look at central banking and…
India's PM calls for Asia growth push
India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has asked South Asian nations to show the resolve and maturity to grasp opportunities to become a major engine of growth for the global economy.
Book on Economic Integration in South East Asia
The research department of the Nepal Nastra Bank's international financial division recently published a book on economic integration in South East Asia.
Comment: Who's to blame for global imbalances?
The issue of the global economic imbalances has become a very political one. Does the current system of largely floating exchange rates allow for a resolution based on careful economic analysis or are we destined for a prolonged series of political…
Greenspan: global giant but awkward legacy
According to this article published on Tuesday 18 October, the Fed's sway over world markets was arguably at its peak in 1998. Before both the launch of the euro and the massive reserve accumulation in Asia that has bestowed China and others with…
East Asian currency union under discussion
There is a case for a currency union in East Asia but one excluding China and Japan, according to Peter Kenen, a Princeton-based academic.
BOJ's Muto on the dynamism and diversity of Asia
In the speech 'Dynamism and diversity of Asia: A central banker's view' given on 17 October Toshiro Muto of the Bank of Japan said Asian economies are stronger today even with record high oil prices compared with the 1970s when they were hit by the last…
IMF appoints new Director for Asia office
International Monetary Fund Managing Director Rodrigo de Rato named Akira Ariyoshi as Director of the IMF's Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific on Wednesday 5 October.
Asian integration and the IMF
In this commentary article IMF Managing Director Rodrigo de Rato says the next step for Asia should be to develop more resilient national and regional financial markets. This would further reduce vulnerabilities by improving the channeling of savings and…
RBA's Macfarlane on global imbalances
In the speech 'What are the global imbalances?' given on 28 September Ian Macfarlane of the Reserve Bank of Australia said current account surpluses currently being recorded across Asia are likely to persist in the medium term in the absence of policy…
Comment: Persaud on Asian reserve diversification
The real problem with global imbalances is neither Asian manipulation of exchange rates nor an Asian savings "glut" which only American consumption can offset, said Avinash Persaud, presenting the latest CEPR report.
Comment: Managing Asian reserves
The accumulation of foreign-exchange reserves by Asian central banks is one of the most talked-about developments in international finance in recent years. Arguably, it is also one of the most misunderstood ones too - its causes and consequences being…
ADB predicts higher GDP growth for China, India
The Asian Development Bank published a report Thursday 8 September forecasting higher GDP growth for China and India, but expressing concerns for Asian countries of higher oil prices.
Asia can fight speculators without its own IMF
The Indonesian authorities plan to seek $6 billion in standby funds from Japan to bolster the country's depleting foreign reserves has seen the Indonesian currency slump to a four-year low, this article published on Tuesday 6 September reports.
Asian central banks pledge to enhance integration
The Monetary Authority of Singapore and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) jointly hosted a high-level seminar on Asian regional financial integration on 3 September 2005.
ASEAN swap ceiling agreement signed
The Central Bank of Indonesia (BI), the Cambodian National Bank, the Monetary Authority of Singapore and the Bank of Thailand have signed an agreement to increase the ceiling of the ASEAN Swap Arrangement from 1 billion USD to 2 billion USD.
Oil price rise leads to C-word use in Asia
This article published onb Friday 2 September says that when respected and sober Asian economists start using the word 'crisis' in reference to surging oil prices it's time to take them seriously.
Academics discuss East Asian Monetary Union
Academics meeting on Friday 19 August called for Asian nations to set up a regional cooperative body similar to the EU and adopt a common East Asian currency.