Position: Bank of Israel Governor Incumbent: Stanley Fischer Date of birth: Oct. 15, 1943 Term: Fischer has been central bank governor since May 1, 2005. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu nominated him for a second five-year...

Position: Belgium Central Bank Governor Incumbent: Luc Coene Date of birth: March 11, 1947 Term: Has been in office since April 2011, replacing Guy Quaden, who had served for 12 years. Key Facts: -- C...

* RBA keeps rates at 4.75 pct as expected * Says inflation contained, Japan effect limited * Markets imply scant risk of hike for months yet SYDNEY, April 5 - Australia's central bank kept interest...

SYDNEY, April 5 - Australia's central bank on Tuesday kept its main cash rate steady at 4.75 percent, a widely expected decision as cautious consumers and a high dollar help keep inflation restrained even as...

WASHINGTON, April 3 - The world's major central banks are about to break ranks. Since the financial crisis entered its worst phase in late 2008, monetary policy has moved in the same direction across all...

BAGHDAD, March 28 - Iraq told the International Monetary Fund this month that its central bank would remain independent, after a court had ruled that the bank operated under the prime minister's authority. Maliki won...

Position: Central Bank Governor Incumbent: Sultan Nasser al-Suweidi Term: Has been in power for five terms. He was reappointed in 2001 for a new term until 2012. Tenure determined by appointment. Key Facts: -- Suweidi...

Position: Central Bank Executive President Incumbent: Hamood Sangour Al-Zadjali Term: Tenure determined by appointment Key Facts: -- In the past, he has said that Gulf central banks should encourage domestic and regional consolidation...

This piece accompanies a Special Report on changes in central banking. BEIJING, March 24 - Not a central bank in the conventional Western mould, the People's Bank of China has nevertheless emerged as a powerful...

FRANKFURT/WASHINGTON, March 24 - On a warm, Lisbon day last May, Jean-Claude Trichet, the ice-cool president of the European Central Bank, was asked whether the bank would consider buying euro zone governments' bonds in the...