Federal Reserve System
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.
Yellen says Fed shouldn't target bubbles
It should not be the Federal Reserve's role to directly target its policies at bursting possible asset bubbles, San Francisco Fed president Janet Yellen said on Thursday 19 January.
Comment: Fed debate continues
Janet Yellen, president of the San Francisco Fed, on Thursday 20 January came out in strong support of incoming chairman Ben Bernanke's suggestion that the Fed should adopt fully-fledged inflation targetting.
Fed's Bies on productivity and economic outlook
In the speech 'Productivity and economic outlook' given on 18 January, Susan Schmidt Bies of the Federal Reserve said last fall's inflation scare has eased somewhat, and the core U.S. inflation rate is at a manageable level.
Philadelphia Fed Business Review, 4th Quarter 2005
The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia has published its regular Business Review for the Fourth Quarter 2005. The latest edition includes the article "Making monetary policy: What do we know and when do we know it?"
Bernanke to testify on Fed policy mid Feb
Federal Reserve Chairman-nominee Ben Bernanke is likely to visit Capitol Hill in mid-February to deliver the Fed's semiannual monetary policy report.
St Louis Fed's Central Banker, Winter 2005
The St. Louis Fed has published the Winter 2005 edition of its Central Banker magazine. The article "How is the payment business likely to change?" says that while financial institutions and others continue to invent and offer various payment "whiz-bang"…
Fed's Guynn sees less clear policy outlook
Atlanta Fed President Jack Guynn on Monday 16 January said the US central bank's interest rate policy outlook is becoming less clear and more tied to the economy.
Former Fed governors expect change
According to the article "As Bernanke era begins, former Fed governors expect change" published Wednesday 11 January, Ben Bernanke will arrive at the Fed without the clout either of his predecessors carried on Wall Street or in Washington. Only time will…
Mexican reserves will protect in election campaign
Mexico's large currency reserves offer protection against the risk that the peso could be destabilised during the country's presidential campaign, a regional Fed president said Friday.
Eurosystem central bank staff cuts gather pace
The number of central bankers in the eurosystem stands at 49,559, a fall of 5.3% or 7,237 staff since one year ago, and 11.9% lower than when the euro was launched in 1999, reveals the 2006 edition of Central Banking Publications' Central Bank Directory.
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…