Central Banking
Indonesian rupiah breaches 11,000 as worries grow
The Indonesian rupiah slid past 11,000 per dollar on Mar 12, 2001, extending early losses after the central bank said it had limited ability to defend the currency.
BoF Fogelholm to head Finnish Bankers' Association
The Finnish Bankers' Association said on Mar 12, 2001 that Markus Fogelholm would replace retiring chief executive Matti Sipila in Sept 2001.
China probes bank loans in stock markets - paper
China's central bank has launched a probe into domestic banks which might have lent money for stock speculation, state media said on Mar 12, 2001.
BoF forecast Finnish inflation above euro-zone avg
Finnish inflation would stay above euro-zone levels and buoyant domestic demand could feed price pressures though the overall inflation outlook had improved, the central bank said on Mar 12, 2001.
Reynders says he not pushing for a 'Mr Euro'
Belgian Finance Minister Didier Reynders said on Mar 12, 2001 he was not pushing to create a "Mr or Mrs Euro" to speak for the common currency and that controversal reform of the Eurogroup had been put on hold.
New and improved BIS website is launched
The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) announced on Mar 12, 2001 that its redesigned and improved website is now available at www.bis.org.
Korea foreign currency transactions surged in 2000
Foreign exchange transactions by domestic financial institutions, including spot and futures markets, increased sharply in 2000 to $8.9 billion a day, up from $6.9 billion in 1999, the Bank of Korea said on Mar 11, 2001.
Head of Colombian cbanks defends his policies
The managing director of the Central Bank of Colombia, Miguel Urrutia, has denied in an interview that the bank is responsible for Colombia's economic crisis and 20.5 per cent unemployment.
Argentine peso peg to include euro,yen-Cavallo
Former Argentine Economy Minister Domingo Cavallo, who reportedly has been offered the job of central bank chief, said in a press interview he favored alterations to foreign exchange policy.
Philippines to improve transparency of cbank
The Philippine government will take measures to further improve transparency and accountability of monetary authorities, according to a news release from the presidential palace on Mar 10, 2001.
Changing the guard on Capitol Hill-by Richard Hill
ARTICLE - Months after Bush's win, two of America's key regulators, the SEC and CFTC, are still without chairmen. In the latest issue of The Financial Regulator Richard Hill examines the likely nominees, and what the new Congress has in store for them.
The rise and fall of consortium banks-by R Roberts
ARTICLE - Consortium banks, which flourished in the early "unregulated" years of the Euromarkets, have all but disappeared. Richard Roberts explains how concern about their stability prompted the BIS to develop the principle of "parental responsibility"…
Measuring regulatory success- by Alan Cameron
ARTICLE - Effective regulation cannot be measured by high-profile prosecutions or by counting boxes ticked. Financial regulators have much to learn from Professor Malcolm Sparrow's study of crime and environmental policing, argue Alan Cameron and Bill…
Effect of booming economy on US trade deficit
RESEARCH PAPER - The robust growth of the U.S. economy between 1996 and 1999 spurred U.S. demand for foreign goods and contributed to a surge in the U.S. trade deficit. An analysis by the New York Fed of the effects of the expansion on the trade balance…
China seeks HK expert to join central bank
China's Premier Zhu Rongji is seeking a Hong Kong banker to become a deputy governor of the country's central bank, a move which analysts say shows Beijing is serious about beefing up its regulatory control of the banking sector.
Currency crisis in emerging markets - predictable?
RESEARCH PAPER - Brazil and Argentina are among the countries most vulnerable to a currency crisis, according to a new model developed by a Dutch central bank economist which had been flashing warning signals about Turkey back in December 2000.
Central banks key to financial stability-BOI, BOF
The internationalisation of institutions and financial activities has heightened the importance of national central banks in ensuring financial stability, the governors of the Bank of Italy and Bank of France said in separate speeches on Mar 9.
Norway government petroleum fund 2000 return 2.5%
Norway's government petroleum fund had a return on capital last year of 2.5%, when measured in terms of a currency basket that corresponds with the Fund's benchmark portfolio, the Norwegian central bank reported on Mar 9.
Asian currency swap idea 'acceptable'-Manila c.bnk
The Philippines is basically happy with the concept of an Asian web of currency swaps aimed at fending off future financial crises and is forging ahead with discussions on terms, deputy central bank governor Amando Tetangco said on Mar 9, 2001.
Fed's Ferguson-monetary policy unhurt by mergers
A global wave of financial mergers and acquisitions in the 1990s, totaling 7,500 deals valued at about $1.6 trillion, has not affected central banks' ability to set interest rates, Federal Reserve Vice Chairman Roger Ferguson said Mar 9, 2001.
Vietnam cbank launches electronic payment system
The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) has completed the technical side of its US$13.2 million inter-bank payment project funded by the World Bank-funded, SBV Governor Le Duc Thuy announced.
Currency crises and foreign reserves-IMF paper
RESEARCH PAPER - In a new IMF working paper, economist Piti Disyatat asks how far a government will run down its currency reserves in defence of a fixed exchange rate. He also uses an optimizing model of currency crisis to determine whether or not a…
Finnish cbank transfers 129m euros to govt
The Bank of Finland has transferred 42% of its 309m euros profit to the government, the first time the bank has had to pay money to the state since 1984.
India's Jalan says bias to cut rates remains
The governor of India's central bank, which cut interest rates twice in recent weeks, said he continues to have a bias toward easing rates.