Federal Reserve System
Dallas Fed launches new publication
The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas has launched 'Economic Letter,' a monthly publication, that will provide commentary on important trends and policy issues shaping the increasingly global economy.
NY Fed to hold credit derivatives meeting
The Federal Reserve Bank of New York has scheduled a meeting on 16 February, to follow up on issues and major developments in the credit derivatives markets since its 15 September 2005, meeting.
Ferguson's banking expertise may aid Bernanke
Although Ben Bernanke will take the reins of the U.S. economy when he takes over as chairman of the Federal Reserve next month; Roger Ferguson may be the one holding the reins of the Fed itself, this article published on Wednesday 10 January suggests.
Lull in hostile criticisms from politicians
The New Year seems to have started on an unusually harmonious note as far as relations between central banks and politicians are concerned. With policy interest rates on hold in the UK and euro areas, and perhaps soon to reach a plateau in the US,…
Who is Ben Bernanke?
Of all the things investors can worry about in the new year, the Greenspan void has to be on the list, according to this article published on Monday 9 January. Bernanke faces not only the risk of unsettling the Greenspan bon ami in global markets, it…
Bernanke Senate vote expected by 31 Jan
The full US Senate will vote on whether to confirm Ben Bernanke as the next Federal Reserve chairman by the end of January, a spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist said on Tuesday 10 January.
St Louis Fed's Regional Economist, January 2006
The Regional Economist, January 2006 edition, from the St Louis Fed includes the article "A lesson in productivity for higher ed". College tuition has increased dramatically over the past decade, yet few think the quality of graduates has kept up…
Federal Reserve needs English elocution lessons
Once Ben Bernanke becomes Federal Reserve chairman after the bank's 31 Jan meeting, suggests this article published on Tuesday 9 January, a top priority should be ending the textual semaphore that's become the central bank's way of not quite…
Fed speeches may send investors in wrong direction
This article published on Saturday 7 January reports on research presented in Boston by Vincent Reinhart, director of the Fed's monetary affairs division, and Brian Sack, a former Fed economist which says Federal Reserve speeches "are the least accurate…
Federal Reserve Bulletin, Autumn 2005
The Federal Reserve published its Bulletin for Autumn 2005 on 5 January. The article 'Recent developments in the credit card market and the financial obligations ratio' says three developments in the credit card market contributed to the rise in the…
Soros expects global economy slow down in 2007
International financier George Soros said in Singapore Monday 9 January that he expects a global recession in 2007 if the U.S. housing market continues to cool after the Fed halts it rate hike campaign.
Fed may take pass at Jan. 31 meeting
According to this article published on Thursday 5 January, there's an outside chance the Federal Reserve could pass on raising rates on 31 January following 25-basis-point moves at each of the last 13 meetings. The next move skywards would put the Fed's…
Atlanta Fed names vice president
John Robertson was named vice president at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta on Tuesday 3 January.
Bernanke may have to grow up fast
Alan Greenspan's first major test came a mere 10 weeks into his tenure as chairman of the Federal Reserve, with the stock market crash of 1987. This article published on Wednesday 4 January looks at the challenges that could face Ben Bernanke when he…
Interview with Hans Tietmeyer
Former Bundesbank president Hans Tietmeyer said in comments published Friday 6 January, that it's too early to pass final judgment on the legacy passed down by Alan Greenspan. "He is an impressive personality. He is open to debate. You can use all…
Study shows Fed deflation tools can work
The Federal Reserve has several ways to boost the economy even if official U.S. interest rates were ever to hit zero, but the public needs to understand them to make them effective, a new Fed study shows.
ECB paper The timing of central bank communication
This European Central Bank Working Paper explores whether there are systematic patterns as to when members of the decision-making committees of the Federal Reserve, the Bank of England and the ECB communicate with the public, and under what circumstances…
Fed minutes signpost end to rate hikes
The Federal Reserve on Tuesday 3 January said it considers its 1-1/2 year long policy of raising U.S. interest rates is nearing an end, saying a statement after its December meeting aimed to signal only a few more increases were likely.
Fed can see an end to interest rate increases
Federal Reserve officials may be close to ending the series of interest-rate increases they started 18 months ago, according to this article published on Wednesday 4 January, though they will keep going as long as necessary to combat inflation, it says.
Chicago Fed National Activity Index, November 05
The Chicago Fed National Activity Index for November 2005 was +0.35, down from +1.02 in October. Three of the four broad categories of indicators that make up the index made positive contributions, while the remaining category made a neutral contribution.
Fed breaks pattern, signals replace promises
According to this recent article, the Federal Reserve's latest FOMC statement marks the end to an extraordinary 18-month period during which they telegraphed exactly what they were going to do at their next policy-making meeting.
Fed wraps holiday statement in shade of neutral
According to this recent article, Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan has offered the markets some holiday cheer, hinting at the recent FOMC meeting that the federal funds rate had entered a neutral zone.
Richmond Fed promotes officer
The Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond announced on Friday 9 December that Gregory Sierra would become assistant vice president, Banking Supervision and Regulation effective from 1 Jan 2006.
Interview with ECB's Bini Smaghi
Speaking recently, Lorenzo Bini Smaghi, member of the Executive Board of the European Central Bank, said that the US Federal Reserve is better than the ECB is "a bit like saying that Alonso is better than Schumacher. It depends on the car. The US economy…