Euro
Prodi backing ECB independence
Italian prime minister Romano Prodi said this week the European Central Bank (ECB) should maintain its independence and that it had done a good job in its interest rate policy.
Why Oman pulled out of the single currency
According to this article from Gulf News, published Sunday 21 January, unique economic challenges mean that recent talk that the GCC monetary union is not necessarily possible could be right.
EU's Almunia positive on 2007 inflation
European Union Monetary Affairs commissioner Joaquin Almunia said Thursday 18 January eurozone growth and inflation should be roughly in line with 2006 figures this year thanks largely due to a positive outlook for Germany.
ECB's Trichet says 'Welcome to the Euro'
In a speech at the Celebration "Welcome to the Euro" given on 15 January Jean-Claude Trichet of the ECB congratulated Slovenia for its successful integration with the euro area and the adoption of the euro.
ECB's Gonzalez-Paramo on Slovenia's euro entry
In the speech 'Welcome to the euro, farewell to the tolar' given on 15 January Jose Manuel Gonzalez-Paramo of the ECB said the introduction of euro cash in Slovenia represented a highly successful continuation of the 2002 cash changeover.
ECB says Slovenia's euro switch successful
Two weeks after the introduction of the euro banknotes and coins, the cash changeover in Slovenia has been successfully finalised in accordance with the plans, the European Central Bank said Tuesday 16 January.
ECB's Tumpel-Gugerell at the Euro conference
In a panel intervention at the Euro conference hosted by Banka Slovenije given on 15 January Gertrude Tumpel-Gugerell of the ECB said now that it has adopted the euro, Slovenia needs to adapt to the absence of an independent monetary and exchange rate…
ECB's Trichet at € conference Slovenia
In his keynote address at the "€ conference Slovenia" given on 15 January Jean-Claude Trichet of the ECB said Slovenia will enjoy the general benefits of participation in the single currency area, such as no exchange rate risks with respect to its most…
Merkel worried by debate on ECB independence
German Chancellor Angela Merkel spoke out on economic issues in an interview Saturday 13 January, defending the independence of the European Central Bank against euro critics and calling for closer ties with the US.
ECB says 265,000 counterfeit euro notes detected
The European Central Bank said Friday 12 January a total of 265,000 counterfeit euro banknotes were removed from circulation during the second half of last year.
Germany's Steinbrueck defends ECB independence
Germany said Thursday 11 January it would not put up with any change in the independence of the European Central Bank.
ECB chief defends central bank independence
Speaking at the press conference following a meeting of the ECB's governing council, ECB president Jean-Claude Trichet said that it was up to all European Union states to ensure independence of their central banks.
Polish committee recommends Skrzypek to NBP
The Public Finances Committee of the Polish Parliament recommended Monday 8 January Slawomir Skrzypek to become the new head of the country's central bank.
Deloitte chief linked to Hungarian cb job
The chief of the Hungarian arm of auditing and consulting group Deloitte, Andras Simor, was tipped on Friday 5 January by daily Nepszabadsag to become the new governor of Hungary's central bank.
CNB's Tuma says euro entry rules outdated
Czech central bank governor Zdenek Tuma said in an article published Thursday 4 January the conditions for new member states to join the euro are outdated and should be overhauled.
Central banks tiptoeing away from the dollar
According to this article from The New York Times published Tuesday 2 January, nations with large holdings of dollars are becoming increasingly willing to dump them in favour of the euro.
PBOC's Wu expects Fed rate cuts in 2007
The US Federal Reserve is expected to cut rates in 2007 and that will reinforce the dollar's downwards bias and the yuan's tendency to rise, a senior Chinese central banker was reported by the Financial News as saying.
Slovenia brings in euro with no hiccups
Slovenia successfully adopted Europe's single currency, the euro, on Monday 1 January, crowning its 15-year transition from a republic in socialist Yugoslavia.
ECB's Liikanen sees inflation risks
European Central Bank Governing Council member, Erkki Liikanen, said there were still upside risks to inflation in the eurozone, Finnish national broadcaster YLE reported on Tuesday 2 January.
Spain says ECB 'independent and professional'
Spanish economy minister Pedro Solbes told Reuters on Wednesday 20 December Spain supports the European Central Bank's policy and is in a different position to France.
Sharp FX moves not in global interest - Trichet
European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet said on Wednesday 20 December that sharp and abrupt moves in currencies would not be in the interests of Europe, the US or the global economy.
Iran plans move towards euro from dollar
A spokesman for the Iranian government said Monday 18 December that the Central Bank of Iran will convert the state's foreign dollar holdings into euros and use the euro for foreign transactions.
ECB's Stark says eurozone rates still low
European Central Bank (ECB) Chief Economist Juergen Stark said Thursday 14 December the bank's interest rate policy is still accommodative and noted that levels are low.
Slovenia 'well prepared' for euro
Slovenia has entered the final phase of preparations for the launch of the euro on New Year's Day, and is ready for the switchover, a central bank official said Thursday 14 December.