Federal Reserve System
Comment: Bernanke gets more time
The new Fed chairman, Ben Bernanke, will have an extra day to listen to different opinions and pore over the latest data on the American economy at his first FOMC meeting. Yesterday's news that the March 28 meeting will be expanded could increase…
Fed's Fischer on global growth dynamics
In this speech given at the Institute of Economic Affairs in London on February 6, 2006, the president of the Dallas Fed, Richard W. Fisher, suggests that the United States will remain the growth engine for the global economy for some time to come.
Bernanke's remarks at swearing-in ceremony
Ben Bernanke made some brief remarks after being sworn in as chairman of the US Federal Reserve by president, George W Bush, on February 6, 2002.
Bies on continuous challenges of risk management
In the speech 'The continuous challenges of risk management' given on 2 February Susan Schmidt Bies of the Federal Reserve said regulators are concerned about heavy commercial real estate exposures and risky mortgage lending practices at U.S. banks.
Rato at the farewell dinner for Alan Greenspan
In remarks at the farewell dinner for Alan Greenspan on 24 January (published 2 Feb) IMF Managing Director Rodrigo de Rato said there are many reasons to envy Alan: not just his economic savvy and ability to move financial markets with a few well-chosen…
New Fed chair has passion for equations
This article published on Thursday 2 February takes an in-depth look at Ben Bernanke. The new Fed chief, it says, wants to strip away some of the mystery of the Fed and come out with an inflation range to aim for over the medium or long term.
Greenspan goes out with final jab at inflation
The Federal Reserve's decision to increase interest rates again left open the possibility of another increase next month in a smooth handoff of the Fed policy baton from Greenspan to Ben Bernanke, this article published on Wednesday 1 February says.
Bernanke inherits an experienced Fed staff
Alan Greenspan's legacy includes a Fed full of battle-tested veterans who helped him calm the markets and steer the U.S. economy through September 11, the 1987 stock market crash, the international currency crises of the 1990s and two recessions,…
Ben Bernanke sworn in as Fed chairman
Ben Bernanke on Wednesday 1 February became the fourteenth Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Chairman of the Federal Open Market Committee, succeeding Alan Greenspan.
Comment: Bernanke's options kept open
Subtle changes in the wording of the Fed's latest monetary policy statement leaves new chairman, Ben Bernanke, with more wiggle-room than may have been expected. Markets will become very sensitive to incoming data and will look to Bernanke's Capitol Hill…
Bernanke becomes Fed chairman, but without a seat
Alan Greenspan celebrated his final day as Federal Reserve chairman with a lunch of grilled salmon and chocolate cake. He also received various gifts from his colleagues, including his boardroom chair.
Greenspan critics are off base on his legacy
As Alan Greenspan prepares to relinquish the Federal Reserve chairmanship on Tuesday 31 January, a cottage industry has sprung up questioning the strength of his legacy. Most of the criticism is off base, according to this article published on Monday.
Bernanke - Be tough, independent, raise rates
As Ben Bernanke takes over the reins at the Federal Reserve after his all-but-certain confirmation on Tuesday 31 January , Washington is bracing itself, according to this article published Monday, for the kind of noisy Fed transition it hasn't…
Fed will raise rates as Bernanke waits
The pending change in the chairmanship of the Federal Reserve won't stop the FOMC raising US interest rates by a quarter point when they meet on 31 Jan for the 14th consecutive meeting, according to this article published on Tuesday 24 January.
Comment: Talking points in January
January has been an eventful month in central banking circles. Debate intensified at the Federal Reserve and the Bank of Japan over their monetary policy frameworks, while the Bank of Italy and the State Bank of Pakistan saw new governors taking office…
Comment: Greenspan's legacy
As the curtains are drawn on the Alan Greenspan era at the Federal Reserve, the debate over whether or not the Fed should have increased interest rates to curb asset bubbles rages on. This debate misses the extent to which the Fed's actions may have…
Cheney praises Fed's 'superb' performance
US Vice President Dick Cheney said the White House has no argument with the way the Federal Reserve conducts monetary policy, but said Alan Greenspan advised him along time ago not to comment on Fed policy.
Chicago Fed National Activity Index, December 05
The Chicago Fed National Activity Index for December 2005, published 25 January, was +0.08, down from +0.59 in November. Two of the four broad categories of indicators that make up the index made small positive contributions, and two made small negative…
Merrill Lynch hires former NY Fed chief
William McDonough, former president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, has joined Wall Street investment bank Merrill Lynch & Co. as vice chairman and special adviser to the chairman on business development, the company said Monday 23 January.
Time to judge the whole record of Alan Greenspan
According to this article published Thursday 19 January, Alan Greenspan was widely seen as giving his blessing to the tax cuts of 2001 - the beginning of the end of a solid decade of progress on fiscal discipline.
Comment: Geithner sounds a loud warning
For the second time this month New York Fed president and vice-chairman of the rate-setting Federal Open Market Committee, Timothy Geithner, has publicly adopted a view on a major policy issue that differs substantially from that of incoming Fed chairman…
Fed says foreign central banks boost debt holdings
Federal Reserve data released on Thursday 19 January showed foreign central banks were net buyers of US debt in the latest week, with purchases of agency securities slightly exceeding a decline in Treasury holdings.
Fed's Poole: Rate rise forecast 'sensible'
St. Louis Fed President William Poole said in an interview published on Monday 23 January that inflation is less worrying now but one or more interest-rate hikes by the Fed could be considered a "sensible forecast".
Pushed, prodded, Greenspan leaves openness legacy
This article published on Wednesday 18 January says one of the abiding legacies Alan Greenspan will leave behind when he departs the Federal Reserve at the end of January is a major shift toward openness at the U.S. central bank.