US dollar
Bank of Israel back in the black by $374m
Israeli central bank declares a modest profit for last year, following $160m loss in 2008 and $1.4 billion loss the year previous
The US banking practices falling behind
Boston Fed study urges US to invest more in payments technology to cope with the demands of the digital age
IMF highlights risks of FX swaps
IMF paper finds that the use of foreign exchange (FX) swaps for funding and hedging purposes is not as infallible as previously thought, especially in periods of market stress
China to drop dollar peg “sooner or later”: Zhou
Chinese central bank chief Zhou Xiaochuan hints the country will soon remove the dollar peg on its currency, analysts see a slow and steady revaluation rather than large one-off move
Ghana’s Amissah-Arthur explains early 2009 hike
Bank of Ghana governor Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur says the West African country’s government has made vital progress in cutting spending, allowing key rates to be lowered
IMF should have come to emerging markets’ rescue: DSK
International Monetary Fund managing director Dominique Strauss-Kahn says it should have been the Fund, not the Fed and other central banks, which provided swap lines to emerging markets in the crisis
Harare will keep multi-currency system till 2012: minister
Economic planning minister says the country will continue using the rand, dollar and pula among others for the time being
US debt ratio drives international exchange rates: Bank of Canada
A Bank of Canada paper posits that the debt to GDP ratio in the US and commodity prices have great impact on bilateral exchange rates
Hong Kong and Indonesia link settlement systems
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority and Bank Indonesia adopt a real time payment-versus-payment link to remove settlement risk
Canada holds rates steady
The Bank of Canada keeps its key rate unchanged and cuts back its money market operations on the strength of the economy’s recovery
Let the yuan appreciate: leading Chinese think tank
Chinese Academy of Social Sciences argues for a one-off 10% appreciation of the yuan as international calls intensify
China should turn to oil: senior central banker
People’s Bank of China director says country should invest in oil and other resources; dismisses suggestion that reserve accumulation will force yuan appreciation
Bank of Finland’s Huhtala on reserve management post-crisis
Heli Huhtala, the head of investments in the Banking Operations Department at the Bank of Finland, discusses how the crisis will change the thinking on central banks’ reserve-management strategies
Crisis down to global imbalances: Obstfeld, Rogoff
Maurice Obstfeld and Kenneth Rogoff say global imbalances key source of crisis
Kazakhstan latest to step away from dollar
The National Bank of Kazakhstan, which has seen foreign currency reserves drop sharply, shifts towards euro on fears over the dollar’s weakness
Sri Lanka boosts gold holdings with IMF purchase
Central Bank of Sri Lanka buys 10 tonnes of gold from IMF, gold climbs higher
IMF to Hong Kong: beware of bubbles
International Monetary Fund looks at the potential macroeconomic implications for Hong Kong of accommodative monetary policy in the United States
Opposition leader slams RBNZ’s inflation-targeting focus
New Zealand’s main opposition leader says his party will withdraw support for the central bank’s inflation targeting framework
US policy threatens emerging markets: China’s top regulator
Chairman of China’s regulator says weak dollar and low rates are dangerous to the global economy; echoes recent comments from top Japan, HK officials
Interview: Marion Williams
Blair Baker spoke to the governor of the Central Bank of Barbados about the how the crisis has affected the island economy and the challenges she faces
How Yam secured his place in history
Tony Latter assesses the career of the recently retired Joseph Yam at the helm of the Hong Kong’s monetary authority.
Rand strength undesirable: SA finance minister
Pravin Gordhan, South Africa’s Minister of Finance says the government will aid the central bank building reserves
Strong Canadian dollar “threat to growth”
Mark Carney, governor of the Bank of Canada, says currency intervention is ineffective without supporting policies
Vietnam holds rates steady and commits to dong liquidity
Central bank's policy reflects anticipated year-end currency shortage