Euro
Target2: ready to go
Five years in the making, Europe's new large-value payments system, known as Target2, is ready to go live on 19 November.
Banks struggle with SEPA set-up
More than half of banks will not be able to comply with the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) initiative, which comes into effect in January.
Eurozone growth looks to have fallen
Turmoil in the financial markets appears to be having a longer impact on growth in the euro area than previously thought.
Czech central bank holds rates
The Czech National Bank decided on Thursday to keep its benchmark interest rate at 3.25%.
EU re-designs euro coin to exclude Turkey
The new design of the euro coin - set to be introduced next year in Slovenia, Malta and Cyprus - will not feature Turkey despite its inclusion in the original plans.
Merkel defends ECB's independence
German Chancellor Angela Merkel implicitly criticised fellow head of government Nicolas Sarkozy of France when she said at an event to celebrate 50th anniversary of the Bundesbank that her government will block any attempts to exert political influence…
National Bank of Romania - Annual Report 2006
The National Bank of Romania spent 2006 preparing for accession to the European Union at the start of 2007.
Dollar drops to record lows against the euro
The dollar fell today to record lows through the $1.40 level against the euro. The American currency continued its slide after the Fed cut interest rates by 50 basis points earlier this week.
Qatar to keep riyal pegged to dollar
Abdullah al-Thani, the governor of the Qatar Central Bank, said that the riyal would remain pegged to the US dollar on Tuesday.
Estonia delays euro entry
The Bank of Estonia has said that Estonia would not meet EU criteria for eurozone accession in the years 2008-2009 and thus would not be able to adopt the common currency in 2010.
Trichet answers back on inflation and jobs
Jean-Claude Trichet responded to criticisms that the euro hampers employment in an interview published 11 August.
Intervention fails to stem equities sell-off
The wide-scale intervention by central banks around the world on Thursday and Friday reduced spreads in domestic money markets, but failed to stop the declines in global stock markets.
Fed looks to stabilise economy with rate hold
Against a backdrop of mounting concern over the health of the American economy, the Federal Reserve decided to leave its federal funds rate at 5.25% yesterday.
Strengthening the economic leg of EMU
Klaus Regling looks at how economic-policy governance might evolve in the euro area
Towards better economic governance
It is high time Europe faced up to the realities of its economic governance gap, says Joachim Bitterlich
The evolution of Europe’s exchange rate regime
The euro area should develop procedures for reaching common positions on international economic-policy issues, argues Lorenzo Bini Smaghi
Living with a strong euro
Europe’s policymakers should be proud of a strong single currency, and actively promote its international role, says Angel Ubide
The euro’s prospects as an international currency
Jacques de Larosière looks at how the euro may develop as a reserve currency
IMF on euro area policies
A report by the International Monetary Fund on euro area policies, released on 31 July, said that the outlook for the region was the best in years, but stabilising inflation below 2% may imply further gradual tightening of monetary policy.
Mixed message from Bernanke
Testimony today from Ben Bernanke, the chairman of the Federal Reserve, before the House of Representatives Committee on Financial Services gave a somewhat mixed message as he predicted that while he expects economic growth to pick up slightly next year…
Hungary's Simor questions Maastricht criteria
Andras Simor, the president of Hungary's central bank, told reporters in Bucharest on 17 July that the Maastricht criteria for the adoption of the euro "might not be as appropriate for emerging countries as for the more developed ones."
Sarkozy tones down ECB rhetoric
French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, appears to have relented to pressure from other European leaders over his repeated criticism of the European Central Bank (ECB). The newly-elected leader said on 16 July that he supported the central bank's independence.
Latvia leaves rates on hold
The Bank of Latvia's Council voted to leave its refinancing rate unchanged at 6% noting that its anti-inflation plan was starting to take effect and there were the first signs of a stabilisation in the real estate market.
Papademos on euro adoption in Malta and Cyprus
In this speech, Lucas Papademos, the vice-president of the European Central Bank, discusses the adoption of the euro in Malta and Cyprus. The two island economies will adopt the euro on 1 January 2008.