Bank of Israel governor named as one of world’s top six bank chiefs

Global Finance magazine on Sunday named Bank of Israel Governor Stanley Fischer as one of the six best bank governors in the world.

Fischer, in office since 2005, garnered an “A” ranking in the magazine’s “Central Banker Report Card” feature for the second year in a row.

The feature, published annually since 1994, grades central bank governors of 50 key countries (and the European Central Bank) on an “A” to “F” scale in areas such as inflation control, economic growth goals, currency stability and interest rate management. (“A” represents an excellent performance, and “F” means outright failure.)

Global Finance publisher Joseph Giarraputo said “During one of the toughest years on record, the World’s Central Bankers were tested as never before. Every year, we assess the determination of Central Bankers to stand up to political interference, and their efforts at influencing their governments on such issues as spending and economic openness to foreign investment and financial services.”

Other central bank chiefs given an “A” were Australia’s Glenn Stevens, Canada’s Mark Carney, Malaysia’s Zeti Akhtar Aziz, the Philippines’ Amando Tetangco Jr., and Taiwan’s Fai-Nan Perng.

US Federal Reserve Chief Ben Bernanke got a “B” (up from a “C” last year). Britain’s Mervyn King got a “B minus.”

Among the “F”s were