Federal Reserve System
Fed hikes cheque processing costs by 41%
In a bid to encourage the move to electronic processing of cheques, the Federal Reserve will increase its charges for the processing of paper by 41% in 2009.
Fed extends swaps to emerging markets, cuts to 1%
The Brazilian, Mexican, Korean and Singapore central banks on Wednesday became the latest to set up swap arrangements with the Federal Reserve to counter dollar liquidity fears.
Fed rate cut of little consequence?
The Federal Reserve's half-point cut to its key rate - the federal funds target - may have triggered a surge in Asian and European stock prices on Thursday. But the policy change may have little bearing on the cost of borrowing it is meant to influence…
Fed examines poverty
The Federal Reserve Board and the 12 regional banks have collaborated on a study looking at high-poverty neighbourhoods in the US and the challenges these communities face.
House-price fall precipitated subprime collapse
The reason for the raft of subprime defaults was a sudden fall in house prices, which made prepayment of loans a less attractive option, finds research from the St Louis Federal Reserve.
Fed $2.7bn down on Bear, GSE sell-off continues
The value of the assets held on the Federal Reserve's books as collateral for its $29 billion loan to failed investment bank Bear Stearns fell by 9.2% over the third quarter, it emerged Thursday. Data also showed foreign central banks flight from Fannie…
We were powerless to save Lehman, says Paulson
The US Treasury and the Federal Reserve had to let Lehman Brothers fail because the now-defunct investment bank did not have enough good collateral on its books to guarantee a Fed loan, Hank Paulson, the US treasury secretary, has said.
Greenspan backs bailout, more regulation
Alan Greenspan, a former chairman of the Federal Reserve seen as a fierce advocate of free markets, on Thursday said he supported both the US Treasury's $700 billion bailout plan and greater regulation of the financial system.
Minneapolis Fed sheds light on crisis myths
Four widely-held beliefs about the financial crisis of 2008 are false, research from the Minneapolis Federal Reserve finds.
Obama turning to ex-Fed's Volcker on economy
Barack Obama, the Democratic candidate for the United States presidency, is increasingly relying on Paul Volcker, a former chairman at the Federal Reserve, for advice on the economy, reports suggest.
Fed buys commercial paper from money-market funds
The Federal Reserve announced on Tuesday that it will start buying commercial paper from money-market mutual funds.
Chicago Fed looks at private equity trends
The latest Chicago Fed Letter contains a summary of a recent conference organised by the central bank on the current trends in the private equity industry.
Ex-Fed's Poole: Treasury coercion may hinder plan
The US Treasury's decision to force some banks to participate in its plan to recapitalise America's banks could prove its undoing, warned Bill Poole, a former president of the St Louis Federal Reserve.
Fed's Beige Book a glum read
The latest edition of the Federal Reserve's Beige Book, a guide to business conditions in the 12 districts overseen by the regional Feds, indicates that economic activity weakened in September across the US.
Bernanke, Kohn grim on outlook
Ben Bernanke and Don Kohn, the two top officials at the Federal Reserve, have forecast a gloomy outlook for the American economy.
Trichet: joint action sets precedent
Monday's decision to provide broad access to liquidity and unlimited dollar funding marked a "world premiere" in exceptionally-confident cooperation between central banks, Jean-Claude Trichet, the president of the European Central Bank (ECB), has noted.
SF Fed's Yellen: US in recession
The US economy appears to be in recession as every major part of the economy has been hit by the financial shock, said Janet Yellen, the president of the San Francisco Federal Reserve.
A better approach to prediction
The Philadelphia Federal Reserve has developed what it believes to be a superior approach to forecasting a range of macroeconomic variables.
Fed picks Pimco to run commercial paper facility
The Federal Reserve has picked Pimco, a bond fund, to manage the assets of its Commercial Paper Funding Facility, which accepts unsecured debt notes direct from the issuer.
US offers $250bn in capital, markets shrug
Washington's unveiling of a $250 billion plan to recapitalise its banking sector did little to soothe equity-market sentiment on Tuesday, with gains at the opening bell proving short-lived.
Fed offers more support to world's biggest insurer
The Federal Reserve has loaned American International Group (AIG), the world's biggest insurer, an additional $37.8 billion, taking the size of beleaguered company's borrowing facility with the central bank up to $122.8 billion.
Schumpeter superior to Smith
Schumpeter's creative destruction is better for understanding the nature of the US economy than Smith's invisible hand and perfect competition, according to new research from the Philadelphia Federal Reserve.
Fed to accept commercial paper for funds
The Federal Reserve on Tuesday adopted a new strategy to placate financial market tensions, saying that it would swap funds for unsecured commercial paper direct from the issuer.
Ex-Fed's Volcker demands regulatory overhaul
Paul Volcker, a former chairman of the Federal Reserve, has urged regulators to enhance supervision on both a national and international level in the aftermath of the global turmoil.