Italy
Bank of Italy closes more than a third of branches
The Bank of Italy said on Wednesday that it will close 33 of its 97 branches as part of the reorganisation of its network.
Italian bank takeovers a success - Saccomanni
The acquisition of southern Italy's leading banks by banks in the centre and north of the country have had important positive effects, contributing to improve principles and techniques of credit management, Fabrizio Saccomanni, a director general of the…
Italian government eyes reserves for debt payment
The Italian government is proposing to use part of the central bank's gold and currency reserves to pay down national debt, which is currently at 107% of the country's gross national product. The country's parliament has approved a resolution calls for…
Italy: annual report 2006
The Italian economy grew at around 1.8% (deflators) in 2006, supported by strong world demand and a cyclical upturn in the euro area.
Bank of Italy orders Italease managers to resign
Two senior managers of Banca Italease SpA, a Milan-based leasing company, have been ordered by the Bank of Italy to resign. The central bank said that the company needs to raise capital after it had to spend € 610m ($843m) on unwinding derivatives bets…
Draghi testifies to parliament
Stronger economic growth has meant a smaller fiscal deficit, noted the governor of the Bank of Italy, Mario Draghi, but Italy's structural deficit remains substantial.
Draghi sees more efficiencies from bank mergers
Mario Draghi, the governor of the Bank of Italy, says the market expects further savings as banks in Italy consolidate. Speaking at the meeting of the Italian Banking Association in Rome on 11 July, Draghi said savings would come from unifying IT systems…
New French candidate for IMF emerges
A former finance minister of France, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, has emerged as one of the early favourites to become the next head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The current managing director, Rodrigo de Rato, announced last month that he would…
Italy's Draghi on financial innovations
In a speech on 4 June Mario Draghi, governor of the Banca D'Italia, reviewed some of the most important financial innovations seen in recent years, and the consequences they have had for financial markets and institutions.
Interview with Malta's Bonello
In a recent interview, the governor of Malta's central bank, Michael Bonello, sought to assuage fears that the changeover to the euro in 2008 would lead to price rises.
Draghi keen on governance reforms for banks
The governor of the Bank of Italy, Mario Draghi, told the central bank's shareholder at the conclusion of its annual meeting that he backs Italian lawmakers' current effort to reform the governance arrangement for the country's cooperative commercial…
Bank of Italy - annual report
The Bank of Italy released its 2006 annual report on 31 May. On the occasion of the release, Mario Draghi, the governor of the central bank, commented on the Italian economy, saying that although its rate of growth is still one of the lowest in the euro…
The importance of monetary aggregates
This ECB working paper presents a strong argument in favour of using monetary aggregates as an analytical tool for predicting future inflation.
Eurozone business confidence dips
Analysts are suggesting that business confidence in the euro area may have peaked. The May figure for the widely-watched Ifo index was unchanged from a month earlier for Germany, but somewhat lower for France and Italy.
Germany defends ECB focus on money growth
Germany's Bundesbank has come out in stout defence of the European Central Bank, arguing that money supply figures - used by the ECB in making interest rate decisions - are helpful in identifying property market distortions.
Italy's Draghi on employment and development
In the speech 'Employment and development - the legacy of Giorgio Gagliani' given on 26 March Mario Draghi of the Bank of Italy said the repercussions of population ageing have already begun to be felt in the Italian labour market.
US's Paulson sees progress on trade imbalances
U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson said in a statement the Group of Seven (G7) nations have made progress but "more needs to be done" on trade imbalances.
Italy's Draghi: Governor Baffi's financial policy
In the speech 'Reflections on monetary and financial policy - Governor Baffi's monetary policy' given on 15 March Mario Draghi of the Bank of Italy said Paolo Baffi was governor of the Bank of Italy during five of the most difficult years Italy has known.
Tumpel-Gugerell on tripartite protocol
In a speech given on 16 February Gertrude Tumpel-Gugerell of the ECB said over the next six months, the ECB and eight central banks will be working closely with the Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina on a needs assessment programme funded by the…
Italy's Draghi on growth and stability
In the speech 'Growth and stability of the economy and financial markets' given on 3 February Mario Draghi of the Bank of Italy said greater international co-operation is needed to strengthen financial markets and prepare for instability.
Bank of Italy shuffles management
Mario Draghi, the governor of the Bank of Italy, has begun reshuffling his management team ahead of a meeting with unions this week, La Stampa reported Friday 3 February.
Prodi backing ECB independence
Italian prime minister Romano Prodi said this week the European Central Bank (ECB) should maintain its independence and that it had done a good job in its interest rate policy.
Bank of Italy rules to facilitate mergers - report
New Bank of Italy regulations allowing banks to make greater use of hybrid instruments for capital reserve requirements could facilitate mergers in the banking sector, Il Sole 24 Ore said Wednesday 10 January.
ECB member bank buys gold
The Daily Telegraph in London reported Wednesday 3 January that a member of the European Central Bank system had begun buying bullion, the first such purchase in years.