Euro
Euro has benefited smaller states, says Polish central bank chief
National Bank of Poland president Marek Belka tells conference that the euro has had a substantial positive impact for smaller European countries
SNB commits to controversial exchange rate policy
Swiss national bank pledges to protect minimum exchange rate against the euro; says currency value is 'still high'
Juncker confirms release of latest funds for Greece
Eurogroup approves second adjustment programme in Greece; first instalment of €39.4 billion of emergency funding to be released
SNB issues own-account rules; Danthine trades attacked
Swiss National Bank issues new rules on private financial transactions conducted by top management; Jean-Pierre Danthine attacked for forex trades done in May 2010
IMF paper looks at exchange rate volatility and currency pegs
Recent IMF research paper investigates the role of trade patterns in shaping the volatility of the effective exchange rate under two alternative peg regimes
SNB spent $19.6 billion maintaining minimum exchange rate
SNB purchased foreign currency to a value of $19.6 billion in 2011; central bank also reveals larger than expected profit
Draghi defends high-value euro banknotes
Letter to MEP Nikolaos Salavrakos outlines reasons for having €200 and €500 banknotes
European Central Bank lends $712 billion to banks
ECB doles out €529.5 billion in low interest loans; analysts raise concerns about how effective the second round of the LTRO will be and the market reaction
Central bank's credibility was vital to introducing minimum rate, says SNB’s Schlegel
The decision by the Swiss central bank to introduce a minimum rate to the euro last September was possible because of the SNB’s credibility, says the central bank’s head of foreign exchange and gold
Mixed market response as Greece deal is proposed
Regional stock indexes show different impact as eurozone agrees on more bail-out funds for Greece; price of gold edged higher as euro rose after news broke
Sepa end-date set in stone following final vote
European Parliament passes legislation imposing a February 1, 2014 deadline for migration to Single Euro Payments Area after regulation receives overwhelming support of MEPs in Brussels
Central banks find novel uses for old banknotes
Central Bank of Ireland makes old notes into artwork; National Bank of Hungary offers the decommissioned banknotes to charities to burn for heating purposes
SNB’s Jordan pledges to maintain Swiss franc’s currency floor
Swiss National Bank acting chairman, Thomas Jordan, preserves commitment of Sfr1.20 floor to euro; analysts expect the central bank to defend but not raise floor
Lithuanian central bank completes euro credit migration to Sepa
Bank of Lithuania says government institutions holding accounts with central bank will now be able to initiate and receive payments in euros through Sepa credit payments scheme
Estonian central bank finds public retaining kroons as memento
Bank of Estonia study finds 81% of respondents are holding on to some kroon cash; not using it for savings shows confidence in the euro, says head of cash and security department
Finland commemorates the end of the markka
New book describes the history of Finnish banknotes and museum exhibition displays competition entries for past currency design contests
ECB paper identifies substantial shift in invoicing patterns following euro adoption
European Central Bank study shows Norway's trading partners participating in the eurozone used their own currency more frequently than before the introduction of the euro
Euro counterfeit banknote figure creeps up
Number of known fake euro banknotes hit 310,000 during in the second half of 2011, up 5% on the first half of the year
Belgium’s Coene believes in commitment of eurozone countries
Governor of National Bank of Belgium says even if Greece were to leave single currency, other member states would draw together to "protect the system"
Commemorative euro coin launched
Eurozone countries issue new €2 coin to commemorate 10 years of the currency; few central banks announce the move
Swiss governor faces questions over wife’s currency trades
Kashya Hildebrand bought US dollars shortly before Switzerland imposed limit on franc to euro value; Swiss National Bank denies dodgy dealing by governor
ECB credibility is damaged, say CBP panellists
Fourth Central Banking ON AIR webinar sees heated discussion over the future of the eurozone; ECB has suffered damaged credibility but independence is unscathed, say panellists
Moody’s issues EU-wide credit warning
Credit rating agency says every EU sovereign rating under threat; warning given on same day OECD labels eurozone crisis “key risk to the world economy”
Greek central bank issues government with ultimatum
Bank of Greece tells newly formed government that unless structural reforms are implemented on schedule, Greece risks being thrown out of the eurozone