Euro
Exporters should watch Swiss franc says SNB chief
Swiss National Bank president Jean-Pierre Roth said in an interview that Swiss exporters should keep a close eye on the Swiss franc and protect themselves for possible volatility.
Dates slide for euro hopefuls
Assistant editor Nick Carver surveys the progress – or in some cases the lack of it – of the ten countries that joined the EU in 2004.
Iceland considers joining euro
Iceland could seek to join the euro, according to Prime Minister Halldor Asgrimsson.
Economist warns over euro currency
Respected European economist Paul de Grauwe has warned of the euro's collapse unless there is progress towards political union.
Riksbank changes currency allocation
Sweden's Riksbank announced on Friday 21 April that it has reallocated the currency holdings in the bank's foreign currency reserves. The changes include a move away from US dollar holdings in favour of euros.
Comment: Sweden sheds reserve dollars
The Swedish Riksbank dropped a bit of a bombshell on international currency markets on Friday 21 April by announcing a significant reduction in the share of dollars and yen in its foreign reserves portfolio. Although Sweden has a relatively small…
Gulf states buy euros with their reserves
According to this article published on Wednesday 5 April, a diversification of Middle East reserves could have a negative impact on Washington's ability to finance its debt.
Should GCC states diversify reserves?
According to the article 'Should GCC states diversify reserves away from the US dollar?' published Tuesday 4 April, the discussion among GCC central banks about diversifying away from the US dollar comes at a time when the greenback has already devalued…
ECB's Trichet on EMU and the euro
In the speech 'EMU and the euro: successes and challenges' given on 30 March Jean-Claude Trichet of the ECB said euro zone interest rates are expected to remain at historically low levels for a long period.
Euro disaster a salutary lesson in what not to do
According to this recent article, the idea of a single currency area for countries like China, Japan, and Korea has certain obvious appeal. However, it is a big stretch to assume that a single currency union is either the best way for them to reap those…
ECB paper on the effects of EMU
The ECB Working Paper "What effects is EMU having on the euro area and its member countries? An overview" published March 2006, addresses the effects of the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) since the introduction of the euro -- on economic and…
China should tap reserves to buy gold
A Bank of China official was quoted on Monday 27 March as saying that China should use part of its foreign exchange reserves to buy gold.
ECB's Issing on the euro
In the speech 'The euro - a currency without a state' given on 24 March Otmar Issing of the ECB said the application of the revised EU stability pact rules to Germany will be the key test of whether the new pact is being applied rigorously.
Estonia sees 'unlikely' January move to euro
The Bank of Estonia has concurred with economic forecasts by the Ministry of Finance that suggest higher than expected inflation will hamper Estonia's plans to join the euro zone in 2007.
Interview with Malta's Bonello
In a recent interview, Michael C Bonello, governor of the Central Bank of Malta, talks about the challenges faced by the Maltese economy ahead of euro adoption and their implications for monetary policy.
ECB paper on the euro cash changeover
The ECB Working Paper "Rational inattention, inflation developments and perceptions after the euro cash changeover" uses the euro cash changeover to test theories of finite information-processing capacities on the side of consumers.
HKMA's Yam on the euro
In the speech 'The euro: Lessons for European and Asian financial markets' given on 24 February Joseph Yam of the HKMA said the integration of financial markets in the Asia-Pacific region can be accelerated if financial and monetary authorities in the…
ECB's Trichet on EU and euro area enlargement
In the speech 'Looking at EU and euro area enlargement from a central banker's angle: the views of the ECB' given on 27 February Jean-Claude Trichet of the ECB said the 10 new EU member states need to show 'high vigilance' on inflation and cut their…
Want to save the euro? Bring back 12 currencies
According to this article published on Monday 27 February, reissuing the 12 national currencies that were replaced with the euro may be the only way to salvage something from an experiment that looks more like a failure with every month that passes.
Bulgaria doing everything to join euro
Bulgarian Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev told European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet on Monday 27 February that his government was doing everything possible to join the EU as soon as possible and to introduce the euro in 2009.
Towards a Single Euro Payments Area - 4th report
In its fourth progress report on the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA), published Friday, the Governing Council of the ECB defined the final SEPA objectives.
Papademos on the euro area economy & emerging Asia
In the speech 'The euro area economy and emerging Asia - current issues and policy challenges' given on 10 February Lucas Papademos of the ECB said market expectations for an ECB rate hike next month are 'reasonable'.
EU's Almunia says Slovenia meets euro criteria
EU economic and monetary affairs commissioner Joaquin Almunia has said Slovenia stands alone as the only euro entry candidate that currently qualifies for membership of the single currency.
IMF letter to the FT
In this letter to the Financial Times on 8 February, 2006, the IMF's assistant director Ashoka Mody, and the Fund's senior resident representative for central Europe and the Baltics, Christoph Rosenberg, question FT columnist Wolfgang Munchau assertion…