Central Banking
Bank of England Quarterly Bulletin - Spring 2001
RESEARCH PAPER - The Bank of England has published the spring 2001 issue of the Quarterly Bulletin, the first issue to be published to a new timetable separated from the quarterly Inflation Report. There are four key articles, mainly dealing with the UK…
UK banks at fault over Abacha money laundering-FSA
RESEARCH REPORT - The UK Financial Servicies Authority has concluded an investigation into UKbanks' financial dealings with the deposed Nigerian leader, General SaniAbacha. The report is strongly critical of control failures at 15 UK bankswhich laundered…
Effects of measurement error on the output gap-BoJ
RESEARCH PAPER - A new working paper "Effects of Measurement Error on the Output Gap in Japan" by Koichiro Kamada and Kazuto Masuda from the research department of the Bank of Japan discusses theoretically how measurement errors and quality changes in…
Lithuania boosts cbank independence in law
The Lithuanian parliament on Mar 13, 2001 approved amendments to the law on the central bank aimed at cementing its independence and giving the institution more freedom to shape monetary policy.
Basel Accord major challenge for Asia banks-HKMA
Recent proposals aimed at strengthening the global financial system pose a major challenge for banks and regulators in Asia, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority said on Mar 13, 2001.
Thailand, Japan close to currency swap deal-paper
Thailand and Japan are close to concluding a bilateral currency swap agreement in the next few months as part of a regional arrangement to support Asian currencies in crisis, the Nation newspaper said on Mar 13, 2001.
Argentine cbank head asks judge to suspend probe
Argentina's Central Bank President Pedro Pou asked a federal judge on Mar 12, 2001 to stop a congressional commission investigating charges he turned a blind eye to money laundering from voicing its conclusion.
MAS liberalises SGD swap rules for offshore banks
Following its recent decision to liberalise trading in Singapore dollar swaps, the Monetary Authority of Singapore said Mar 13, 2001 that effective March 1 it has allowed offshore banks to enter into currency swaps of any amount with non-banks.
Communist Laos admits failures in managing economy
The secretive communist Laotian government said on Mar 13, 2001 it had mismanaged the economy over the past five years, triggering hyperinflation and a tumbling currency.
Greenspan to appear at Al Gore's journalist class
Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan is scheduled to appear before Columbia University journalism students on Mar 21, 2001 as a part of former vice president Al Gore's journalist course on covering national affairs.
Euro & Talous - Bank of Finland quarterly
RESEARCH PAPER - It would be wrong to think that the positive developments in central government finances in Finland in 2000 have opened the way for a permanent increase in government spending, since the growth of tax revenue is likely to slow…
Recent Developments in Financial Markets-Clementi
SPEECH - In a speech titled "Recent Developments in Financial Markets: Some Implications for Financial Stability" delivered at the Banca D'Italia on Mar 9, 2001, David Clementi, deputy governor of the Bank of England, discusses some recent developments…
Financial Innovation and Monetary Transmission
SEMINAR - The Federal Reserve Bank of New York is hosting a conference titled "Financial Innovation and Monetary Transmission" from Apr 5-6, 2001. This seminar will offer insight into how the enormous changes that are going on in the financial sector…
Standards and Codes-A tool for growth- IMF Koehler
SPEECH - Horst Kohler, managing director of the IMF, gave a interesting speech titled "Standards and Codes - A Tool for Growth and Financial Stability" on Mar 7, 2001, at a joint IMF/World Bank Conference on International Standards and Codes. He outines…
Recent US data 'quite encouraging' - BoE George
Central bankers from the Group of l0 industrialized nations believe a pick-up in the U.S. economy during the second half of this year "remains the most likely outcome," Eddie George, current chairman and head of the Bank of England, said on Mar 12, 2001.
BIS sets up Asia-Pacific consultative council
The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) said on Mar 12, 2001 it had set up an Asian Consultative Council comprising governors of its central bank members in the region.
Financial supervisory body under Bank of Estonia
After a hard fought battle, the Estonian parliament has decided by a majority of votes to place the integrated financial supervisory body under the Bank of Estonia.
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.