| Romanian Central Bank Lifts Key Interest Rate
(RTTNews) - The National Bank of Romania raised its policy rate to 9.5% per annum from 9% on Wednesday. In its meeting, the Board of the central bank decided to continue to pursue a firm management of money market liquidity via open-market operations. It also decided to leave the existing minimum reserve requirement ratios unchanged on both leu- and foreign currency-denominated liabilities of credit institutions. The central bank said in a report that it would closely monitor developments in macroeconomic indicators and would assess their outlook. The bank also said that it stands ready to adjust its instrument settings to counteract inflationary pressures in order to re-enter the announced medium-term disinflation trajectory in a sustainable manner at the earliest.
SHORT-TERM RATES CLOSE ON STEADY NOTE
KUALA LUMPUR, March 27 (Bernama) -- Short-term rates closed on a steady note today as Bank Negara Malaysia continued to siphon off surplus funds from the money market, dealers said. They said the action reduced the market's total liquidity surplus to RM13.901 billion, of which RM11.034 billion was from the conventional operations and RM2.866 billion Islamic funds. The central bank estimated today's liquidity surplus at RM18.682 billion, of which RM14.368 billion was from the conventional system and RM4.318 billion Islamic funds. The central bank conducted a conventional tender for RM11 billion for one day and an Al-Wadiah tender for RM2.8 billion for one day. The overnight rate ended at 3.45 percent while the one-, two- and three-week rates were at 3.47 percent, 3.49 percent and 3.51 percent respectively.
Mayor announces $75 million Pike Place Market levy
The money would go to replace and rehabilitate outdated infrastructure in the 100-year-old market. Nickels noted that in 1971, voters brought the market back from the brink of extinction. Since then the Market has been in constant use with more than 10 million visitors each year, 500 full time residents and 240 businesses. "We saved it from the wrecking ball; now we need to save it from the ravages of old age so it can be around for another 100 years," said Nickels.\ Pending City Council approval, the levy will go to Seattle voters on the November ballot. The levy will run from 2009 to 2014 and will cost the median Seattle homeowner about $37 per year (based on a $420,000 home). This is $66 less per year than the existing Parks levy, which expires at the end of this year.
|
