United States
How high is inflation? Depends how you ask
Seemingly small differences in how inflation is referred to in a survey can lead respondents to consider significantly different price concepts, says a paper from the New York Federal Reserve.
Paulson wants more cash as Tarp bails out Detroit
Hank Paulson, the US treasury secretary, has called for Congress to hand over the remainder of the $700 billion in taxpayer funds allocated to the Troubled Asset Relief Plan (Tarp). Paulson's pleas followed news that George W. Bush, the US president,…
Obama picks SEC head and Fed governor
Barack Obama, the US president-elect, has named Mary Schapiro, the chief executive of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), as the new head of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The president-elect also appointed Daniel Tarullo,…
A new model for long-run risks
A paper from the Kansas City Federal Reserve devises a model long-run risks model where inflation risks and volatilities are in line with survey data.
Fed cut a psychological boost but little more
At face value, Tuesday's Federal Open Market Committee statement was an historic move that underlined the US central bank's commitment to do all it can to counter the crisis. But, though the statement met with widespread approval from the markets, it…
Fingers pointed at SEC in Madoff affair
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), a leading American regulator, is under fire for failing to spot alleged investment fraud by Bernard Madoff.
Explaining female labour participation
This paper by the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston examines the reasons for changes in the participation of married woman in the US labour market.
Fed floats bond issuance
The Federal Reserve is considering issuing its own bonds as a means to absorb the liquidity with which it has flooded markets as well as for fundraising purposes.
Fed's Kroszner on restoring confidence in MBS
Comprehensive and standardised loan-level data covering the entire pool of loans backing mortgage-backed securities (MBS) was needed so that the underlying credit quality could be analysed more easily, said Randall Kroszner, the governor of the Federal…
Fed "extremely reluctant" to bail out Detroit
Ben Bernanke, the chairman of the Federal Reserve, has indicated that the central bank would be extremely reluctant to prop up Detroit's ailing big-three car companies.
ECB's Bini Smaghi on the financial crisis
Blaming the current crisis on the United States might be tempting but would be a mistake, said Lorenzo Bini Smaghi, a member of the executive board of the European Central Bank (ECB).
Ex-Fed staff divided on leaning against the wind
Four former senior Federal Reserve officials have offered four differing slants on one of the most hotly-debated topics in central banking.
Bankers get to put pressure on Bernanke & Co
An American company is giving Wall Street bankers the chance to squeeze Ben Bernanke, Alan Greenspan and Hank Paulson by immortalising the three figureheads of US finance in the form of stress balls.
From the frying pan to the fire
Emerging markets are feeling the pain of the credit crunch. But some are better placed to deal with the consequences, says Barry Eichengreen
Three essential questions for reforming finance
Barack Obama should appoint a commission to investigate what went wrong and guard against quick fixes, says Eugene White
Interview: Raghuram Rajan
Claire Jones spoke to the former chief economist at the International Monetary Fund about the policy response to the crisis, particularly the role of the Fund
Would-be investors scarred by banking crises
Systemic banking crises have a severe impact on behaviour, finds a new paper form the Chicago Federal Reserve.
Fed's Plosser on crisis measures
Charles Plosser, the president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, discusses the Fed's dramatic departures from textbook central banking during the crisis.
Bernanke urges action on mortgages
Ben Bernanke, the chairman of the Federal Reserve, has called for an acceleration of efforts to stem a rising tide of home foreclosures.
Watchdog raps TARP management
A congressional watchdog has found the US Treasury wanting on a number of issues related to management and oversight of the $700 billion bailout plan known as the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP).
Don't forget inflation - Richmond's Lacker
Federal Reserves monetary policy needs to remain consistent and not allow inflation to accelerate over the business cycle, said Jeffrey Lacker, the president of the Richmond Federal Reserve.
Ex-NY Fed's Corrigan to head new Goldman wing?
Gerald Corrigan, a former head of the New York Federal Reserve, could be about to take the helm at Goldman Sachs's new bank holding company.
FDIC surveys bank overdraft programmes
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has gathered data on the types, characteristics, and use of overdraft programmes operated by the1,171 banks supervised by the deposit insurance regulator.
Bernanke signals shift to quantitative easing
Ben Bernanke, the chairman of the Federal Reserve, has hinted that the central bank will turn increasingly to its armoury of quantitative easing tools with its stock of rate cuts almost spent.