Euro
Sveriges Riksbank Press Release
PRESS RELEASE - Changes in the routine for EU payments, 3 February.
Treasury Committee assess euro entry prospects
A series of hearings continued Tuesday with a distinguished panel of experts giving evidence to the UK's Treasury Select Committee on the prospects for UK euro entry. The group called for reform of the ECB with a redefined inflation target and gave a…
Soros criticises EU budget rules inflation focus
Renowned U.S. financier and philanthropist George Soros criticised the euro zone's strict budget rules Monday, saying there are serious problems in the management of the common currency that must be resolved.
Hamalainen on how the ECB manages the euro
SPEECH - In the speech 'How the European Central Bank manages the euro and what is in store for 2003' Sirkka Hamalainen of the European Central Bank expressed concern over the widely-held perception that monetary policy can solve very different stability…
Lithuania may replace litas with euro in 2006
The Bank of Lithuania governor, Reinoldijus Sarkinas, said on Monday he saw no obstacles to Lithuania adopting the euro as its national currency in 2006 or early 2007.
Report - UK on track to pass euro convergence test
The economies of Britain and the euro-zone have converged since the new euro currency was launched four years ago - and there is no sign that this general trend will end, according to a study by PricewaterhouseCoopers, the accounting firm.
Dollar hits three-year low against the euro
The dollar fell to a three-year low against the euro Thursday, as investors continued to lose confidence in US assets and expectations grew of an imminent Iraqi war.
Germany has only itself to blame for its woes
ARTICLE - This article argues that one size always fits all in any monetary area, referring to the euro zone interest rate. And asks the question, Has the euro in any way aggravated the problem, compared with past monetary arrangements?
Euro coins spend their first year at home
The euro has made life easier for travellers between the 12 countries that adopted the single currency a year ago. But euros appear to be more of a stay-at-home coinage than expected.
Czech national bank may adopt euro in 2007
The Czech National Bank (CNB) has put its weight behind the Finance Ministry's plans for public finance reform, saying that the country should prepare for adoption of the euro in 2007.
Sweden can thrive without the euro
ARTICLE - After Sweden named the date for its euro referendum this article by a Swedish politician says that little enthusiasm exists across Europe for the euro and Swedes themselves are sceptical. It also claims that Britain would be striking a "blow…
Sweden decides on wording of euro question
Sweden has announced the wording of the question to be put in a referendum next year on whether to adopt the euro. The question is "Do you think that Sweden should introduce the euro as its currency?"
ECB overhaul raises hopes of softer price target
The ECB has often been criticised as slow to react with interest rate moves. But with the constraint of a narrow inflation target its hands have been tied, restricting its ability to provide the euro zone economies with the stimulus they need. But now we…
Padoa-Schioppa - Where does the euro stand?
SPEECH - In the speech 'International currencies: where does the euro stand' Tommaso Padoa-Schioppa of the ECB said the role of the euro as an international reserve currency has remained subdued, although the international role of the currency has been…
Dollar at lowest level against euro since Jan 2000
The dollar plunged to its weakest level in almost three years against the euro and fell against the yen after a U.S. government report on declining producer prices raised concerns profit growth will slow.
Remsperger on Germany at the Crossroads
SPEECH - In the speech 'Germany at the Crossroads' Hermann Remsperger of the Deutsche Bundesbank said with regard to wage rate policy, the Bundesbank repeatedly makes clear that the rate of inflation in Germany is lower than the euro-area average. The…
Wim Duisenberg reflects on the euro's 1st birthday
INTERVIEW - It's now been nearly a year since the Jan. 1 introduction of the euro. In an interview with Deutsche Welle Radio on Friday, the president of the European Central Bank takes stock of the euro's success.
The high cost of resisting the euro
ARTICLE - In an article the chief economist of the pro euro lobby group, Britain in Europe, says Britain is paying a rising price for excluding itself from the euro.
ECB may issue €1 note to help curb price rises
The European Central Bank is to discuss the idea of introducing one euro banknotes as a possible way to curb inflation. However, the high velocity of circulation of low value notes coupled with higher production costs would make this an expensive option.
Poland's central bank pushing for euro adoption
Central bank president Leszek Balcerowicz has said that the adoption of the euro by Poland in the years 2006-2007 would be beneficial, but only if the budget deficit is tackled. The European Commission is apparently discouraging the move in a new, still…
ECB wants all euro aspirants to join ERM
The European Central Bank (ECB) has recommended that all countries seeking to join the euro must first spend at least two years in the exchange rate mechanism (ERM). This contrasts with comments from Swedish politicians who recently said they would try…
ECB's Issing warns of limits to transparency
There are limits to the degree of transparency that central banks are able to supply, European Central Bank chief economist and executive board member Otmar Issing said on Monday. He also noted that the introduction of the euro had raised peoples…
ECB rate cut will boost confidence: Welteke
Following the ECB's half point interest rate cut to 2.75 percent last week, ECB council member Ernst Welteke has said the move should boost confidence and bring long term improvement in euro zone economies.
ECB Press Conference
PRESS CONFERENCE - Duisenberg said that since the last rate cut there has been no abatement in the uncertainty on the euro zone economic outlook but more uncertainty than ever. This has increased concerns about the sluggishness of the economy. The half…