Asia
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.
Growth rate in Korea at second-lowest: ADB
Korea's economic growth rate for 2006 will be the second-lowest out of a dozen Asian economies, the Asia Development Bank predicted in a report.
Towards a new Plaza Accord?
The explosive growth in Asian reserves puts a premium on international action to redress global imbalances. By Jean-Jacques Rey.
A punch bowl made in China
China is supplying a punch bowl to keep the party going despite the Federal Reserve's best efforts, according to an article published on Wednesday 10 August. So consumers can thank Beijing and other Asian central banks for all the cheap credit, it says.
Pressure on Asia to shift reserves
Asian central banks may have to shift up to $500 billion in reserves from dollars to euros and yen or risk foregoing $28 billion a year in potential revenue, according to a report published by Goldman Sachs Group.
EMEAP central banks to boost economic security
The governors of central banks from 11 East Asian and Pacific countries agreed to build a regional financial security network and strengthen coordination in a bid to decrease financial vulnerability against external pressure.
ADB chief calls for early yuan shift
Asian Development Bank President Haruhiko Kuroda said on Tuesday 14 June that China should shift to a more flexible currency regime at an early date as such a move would benefit China and the rest of the world.
Dangerous drift in international money
The international monetary situation is being allowed to drift dangerously as the leading countries neglect the risks and ignore calls for reform. Robert Pringle reports from Beijing.
Is the IMF an endangered species in Asia?
This article says last week's meeting of the Asian Development Bank marked the resurrection of the idea of an "Asian Monetary Fund". This step, along with the Asian Bond Fund, will not only move Asia further down the path of integration, but also reduce…
EMEAP announces ABF2 moves to implementation phase
The eleven central banks and monetary authorities from East Asia and the Pacific which make up the EMEAP Group announced on Thursday 12 May that the Asian Bond Fund 2 (ABF2) has moved into its implementation phase.
Fed's blunder should make Asia green with envy
This article published on Thursday 5 May says no policy maker in Asia can claim to match the Fed's mastery over "open mouth operations". Where many of the Asian central banks go wrong is in thinking they'll get more respect from the market by being…