Federal Reserve

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Fed Won't Say Where $2T in Loans Went

Money is in addition to $700B Wall St. bailout; collateral unclear, too

(Newser) - The Federal Reserve has lent more than $2 trillion to financial institutions under programs without congressional oversight—and will not disclose to whom or under what terms, Bloomberg reports. The loans are separate from the $700 billion congressionally approved bailout package. Investors and citizens are concerned that the collateral given...

'Race to Zero' Under Way as Central Banks Cut Rates

With Fed at 1% and European, Asian banks trimming, no-interest loans not far off, perhaps

(Newser) - Interest rates around the world are falling, with no end in sight as central banks hack away at obstacles to lending and try to jump-start their economies, Bloomberg reports. With the US rate at 1%, the Bank of England yesterday cut its key figure to 3%, the lowest since 1955,...

Credit Crisis 'Froze' Inflation: Dallas Fed Chief

Nevertheless, US is 'navigating the mother of all financial storms'

(Newser) - The credit crisis has had at least one unintended positive effect, stopping a growing threat of inflation, Bloomberg reports. Dallas Fed president Richard Fisher said “inflationary momentum froze in its tracks” as the credit market did the same, but otherwise had a poor view of the economy. “I...

Think 1% Is Low? He Could Go to Zero

Analysts predict Japan-style cuts in interest rates

(Newser) - Yesterday Ben Bernanke cut the federal funds rate to an ectomorphic 1%—but the Fed might not be done yet. More and more analysts are predicting that the central bank will have to cut rates all the way to zero if it wants to get the economy moving again. But...

Dow Down 74 After Volatile Day
 Dow Down 74 After Volatile Day 
MARKETS
Oct 29, 2008 3:19 PM CDT

Dow Down 74 After Volatile Day

Late rally evaporates after Fed confirms cut, but most of Tuesday's gains are preserved

(Newser) - Volatility ruled Wall Street today as investors waffled in their response to the expected Fed rate cut, MarketWatch reports. Though the session’s final hour saw the Dow rocket to a 250-point gain in light trading, that evaporated and the Dow closed down 74.16 at 8,990.96. The...

Fed Cuts Rate Half-Point to 1%
 Fed Cuts Rate Half-Point to 1% 
Oct 29, 2008 1:29 PM CDT

Fed Cuts Rate Half-Point to 1%

1% is lowest mark since 2004 as Bernanke tries to combat slowdown

(Newser) - The Federal Reserve surprised no one today, cutting interest rates by half a point, to 1%—as investors widely predicted he would, AP reports. “The pace of economic activity appears to have slowed markedly, owing importantly to a decline in consumer expenditures,” the Fed said in a statement,...

Market Dips as Eyes Turn to Fed
 Market Dips as Eyes Turn to Fed 
MARKET OPENING
Oct 29, 2008 8:55 AM CDT

Market Dips as Eyes Turn to Fed

But yesterday's gain hasn't evaporated yet

(Newser) - Stocks took a modest dip at the open today, as investors waited for a rate cut decision from the Federal Reserve. The Dow fell 53 points, while the S&P and Nasdaq crept down 0.9% and 1.1% respectively. Investors are expecting a half-point rate cut, bringing the fed...

Fed Rate Cut to 1% Expected
 Fed Rate Cut to 1% Expected 
Oct 29, 2008 8:44 AM CDT

Fed Rate Cut to 1% Expected

With Inflation fears fading, 'the issue now is how bad the recession will be'

(Newser) - Worries about inflation are taking a backseat to recession fears as the Federal Reserve today is likely to lower its benchmark rate another half-point to 1%, with the possibility it could go to zero by June if the economy doesn’t rebound, reports Bloomberg. “The issue now is how...

Dow Jumps 889, Cracks 9,000
 Dow Jumps 889, Cracks 9,000 
MARKETS
Oct 28, 2008 3:35 PM CDT

Dow Jumps 889, Cracks 9,000

Bargain hunters spur big gains as markets jump late

(Newser) - Stocks zoomed past the 9,000 mark late in today's session as investors ignored a rock-bottom consumer-confidence rating, focusing on blue-chip gains and the likelihood of another rate cut by the Federal Reserve, the Wall Street Journal reports. The Dow shot up 889.35 to close at 9,065.12....

Stocks Jump on Rate-Cut Hope
 Stocks Jump on Rate-Cut Hope 
MARKET opener
Oct 28, 2008 8:53 AM CDT

Stocks Jump on Rate-Cut Hope

Strong opening on global rallies

(Newser) - Stocks shot up at the bell this morning, powered by rallies overseas and speculation that another Fed rate cut is coming down the pike. The Dow rose 239, while the S&P and Nasdaq saw 2.9% and 3.3% jumps respectively. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng in particular saw...

Poor Day Ends Horrible Week
 Poor Day Ends Horrible Week 
MARKETS
Oct 24, 2008 3:23 PM CDT

Poor Day Ends Horrible Week

Dow off 312, but bears show some restraint

(Newser) - US stocks declined today but stopped somewhat short of total free fall after global markets plunged close to 10%. With perhaps a buffer from news of a bump in existing US home sales, the Dow fell 312.30 to close at 8,378.95, MarketWatch reports. The Nasdaq dropped 51....

Greenspan: I Was Wrong to Trust Banks

Fed's push for deregulation helped 'nnce-in-a-century credit tsunami'

(Newser) - Alan Greenspan made a mild mea culpa today as lawmakers grilled him on his role in a financial crisis the former Fed chief called a “once-in-a-century credit tsunami,” the Wall Street Journal reports. Asked if he was wrong to champion deregulation, Greenspan replied, “partially,” explaining he’...

Fed Pledges $600B to Keep Money-Market Funds Afloat

Will partner with JPMorgan, lend money to help cover redemptions

(Newser) - The Federal Reserve today unveiled a $600 billion program to finance the purchase of assets from money-market mutual funds, Bloomberg reports. JPMorgan will oversee five special units, which will use money borrowed from the Fed to buy CDs, bank notes, and commercial paper nearing maturity. The program is the Fed’...

Bernanke All But Endorsed Obama: Journal Editors
Bernanke All But Endorsed Obama: Journal Editors
OPINION
Oct 21, 2008 10:59 AM CDT

Bernanke All But Endorsed Obama: Journal Editors

Fed chief's support for stimulus conformed to Dem platform

(Newser) - The Fed once shunned politics, but chairman Ben Bernanke’s support for a second economic stimulus bill yesterday amounts to an endorsement of Barack Obama, write the outraged editors of the Wall Street Journal. By saying a stimulus would be "well targeted," despite GOP and White House resistance,...

More AIG Splurges: $86K Hunting Trip, Lobbyists

$86K trip to England comes after feds' $85B handout, $38B loan

(Newser) - The $440,000 spa weekend isn't the only outrageous splurge AIG seems to have indulged in after being bailed out by taxpayers last month. Now come news of an $86,000 hunting trip in England, turned up by New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo. And the faltering insurance giant is...

UK Props Up Major Banks; Fed Offers Cash

Moves to shore up financial system have global markets rising

(Newser) - Governments across the globe are acting with “an enormous amount of congruence” and speed as they pour billions of dollars into rescue plans hoping to keep a sinking banking system afloat, reports the Wall Street Journal. The British government today provided $60 billion to prop up 3 banks, and...

Global Economy Needs Shelter From the Storm
Global Economy Needs Shelter From the Storm
Opinion
Oct 9, 2008 11:28 AM CDT

Global Economy Needs Shelter From the Storm

Think of it as a bankruptcy; with help, it can recover and thrive

(Newser) - The global economy is in such chaos that it needs the equivalent of bankruptcy protection, David Ignatius writes in the Washington Post. "Bankruptcy, if properly managed, is a workout process that provides a pathway back to solvency," he argues. "Companies often reemerge from bankruptcy healthier than before;...

Federal Reserve to Give AIG Another $37.8B

(Newser) - These days, $85 billion just doesn't go as far as it used to. The Federal Reserve said today it will provide AIG with an additional $37.8 billion to help the beleaguered insurance giant out of its liquidity mess, Bloomberg reports. The money is on top of the massive loan...

Stocks Fall 189 Despite Rate Cut
 Stocks Fall 189 Despite Rate Cut 
MARKETS
Oct 8, 2008 3:24 PM CDT

Stocks Fall 189 Despite Rate Cut

Alcoa offers dismal earnings report to start third-quarter season

(Newser) - Stocks fell nearly 190 points in a volatile day, with investors showing mixed opinions on whether an unprecedented global rate cut by the Fed and foreign central banks would help the credit crisis. After swinging in a 433-point range, the Dow closed down 189.01 points at 9,258.10,...

Stocks Rocky After Rate Cuts
 Stocks Rocky After Rate Cuts 
updated
Oct 8, 2008 9:25 AM CDT

Stocks Rocky After Rate Cuts

Investors cheer/jeer/cheer the rate cut

(Newser) - Stocks had a volatile morning, dropping as much as 230 points after the bell before swinging upwards once more, the Wall Street Journal reports. The Dow was up about 39 points at midmorning, while the Nasdaq and S&P gained 0.7% and 0.8% respectively, as investors digested a...

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