EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK : BELGIUM'S PETER PRAET NAMED ECB CHIEF ECONOMIST.

The European Central Bank (ECB) appointed, on 3 January, Belgian national Peter Praet as chief economist. Benoit Coeure (France) and Jorg Asmussen (Germany), who were appointed to the ECB board at the start of the week, had both been seen as prospective appointees.

"Mr Peter Praet will be responsible for economics, human resources, budget and organisation and the Target2 Securities programme," reads an ECB statement on the distribution of responsibilities among members of the Executive Board. It is the chief economist who submits a monthly proposal on key rates to...