Euro
HKMA re-appoints Standard Chartered as euro settlement institution
Standard Chartered Bank given a third five-year contract to run the euro real-time gross settlement system in Hong Kong; commended for operating the system “smoothly and effectively” since 2003
SNB reveals scale of latest foreign exchange purchases
Swiss National Bank posts large increase in foreign exchange holdings from June to July; purchases represent efforts by central bank to prevent safe-haven flows into country
Draghi says ECB ready to make further bond purchases
ECB president says central bank is prepared to intervene in sovereign bond markets to prop up ailing eurozone economies; ECB holds rates, as does Bank of England
Swiss National Bank posts profit in first half of year
Latest figures show central bank made a profit in first half of the year; majority of gains come from holdings of foreign currency purchased to maintain minimum exchange rate against euro
Ex-UK MPC members discuss future of eurozone
Panellists at event in London say euro will survive but with a smaller group of countries; argue UK is in dangerous position to respond to eurozone collapse
Ukrainians encouraged to hold savings in national currency
Director of National Bank of Ukraine’s Monetary Policy Department promotes hryvnia for savings purposes; tells public currency is sound and highlights uncertainty surrounding other currencies
ECB reports drop in seized counterfeit euro banknotes
Number of fake euro banknotes withdrawn from circulation falls to 251,000; lowest amount of fake notes found since 2003
‘Unofficial dollarisation’ raises significant stability risks, ECB study finds
Emerging markets with large holdings of ‘hard’ currency assets and liabilities are exposed to substantial stability risks and policy failure, finds ECB study
Markets recoil as major central banks ease policies
Chinese, European and UK central banks take monetary policy action; moves leave no doubt about gloomy global economic picture as eurozone stock markets fail to rally
Draghi defends sovereignty in an economic union
President of the European Central Bank discusses future of economic union in the eurozone; hints at more stimulus
‘Not clear’ China wants renminbi to rival dollar, says CIC’s Lau
China is pushing for the renminbi to be used more widely in commerce and finance but it is unclear if Beijing wants its currency to rival the US dollar and euro, says CIC’s Lawrence Lau
Nalm Americas: Reserves panel split on euro
Some central banks in the Americas are reducing allocation to euro – but not necessarily as a result of the eurozone debt crisis
Czech National Bank shifts reserves away from euro
Annual report shows decision was taken to hold Australian dollars as part of foreign currency reserves; swapped part of euro holdings for the Australian currency
ECB executive urges greater European federalisation
José Manuel González-Páramo, a member of the executive board of the ECB, examines sovereign debt crisis; says deeper union is “essential” in eurozone
Central Bank of Ireland governor takes pay cut
Patrick Honohan gifts portion of salary back to the government, resulting in lower salary than previous year; Annual Report shows profit of €1.2 billion
Germany’s political elite treads tightrope of public opinion on euro
Citizens of Europe’s most powerful economy have never had a real affection for the euro, making Germany’s role in resolving the continent’s debt crisis extremely tricky. By Norbert Walter
Renminbi to shake up the reserves management status quo
China is unlikely to fully liberalise its currency controls during the next five years. But this does not look set to prevent the renminbi from achieving full reserve currency status. By Gary Smith
SNB’s Jordan extols virtues of central bank co-operation
Thomas Jordan explains need for central banks to work together, especially in times of crisis; says foreign central banks accept minimum exchange rate is "justified"
EFSF withholds funds as pressure increases on Greece
EFSF withholds €1 billion of emergency payout to Greece as voters revolt against austerity measures; ECB’s Nowotny warns time is running out
Central Bank of Ireland issues new €20 gold coin
Irish central bank launches commemorative €20 coin; monastic art features on the coin, of which 12,000 will be issued
Estonia issues 50 million new coins
Bank of Estonia announces increased stock of 1- and 2-cent coins; also discusses new role in producing euro banknotes
Asian central banks urged to keep interest rates on hold
Chief economist of the Asian Development Bank urges caution from policy-makers regarding interest rates; says impact of eurozone bank deleveraging already incorporated into ADB’s growth forecasts
ECB survey finds worsening borrowing conditions for SMEs
European Central Bank survey finds borrowing conditions for SMEs have ‘worsened considerably’ in past six months
FSA’s Turner outlines reforms needed in eurozone
Adair Turner sets out reforms necessary for eurozone stability; calls for creation of euro bonds and greater fiscal integration