United States
Fed's minutes for June meeting
The Federal Open Market committee's predominant policy concern remained the risk that inflation would fail to moderate as expected, the minutes to the July meeting explained.
Analysing hedge fund credit risk
This New York Fed Staff Report argues that the characteristics of hedge funds makes the use of counterparty credit risk management (CCRM) methodologies more difficult as they exacerbate market failures linked to agency problems, externalities, and moral…
Mixed message from Bernanke
Testimony today from Ben Bernanke, the chairman of the Federal Reserve, before the House of Representatives Committee on Financial Services gave a somewhat mixed message as he predicted that while he expects economic growth to pick up slightly next year…
Fed's Monetary Policy Report to Congress
The Fed's seminannual report to the American congress, which was released at the start of chairman, Ben Bernanke's testimony on 18 July, paints a rosy picture of the outlook for the world's largest economy.
US watchdogs mull hedge fund regulation
After hearing testimonies on developments in the hedge fund industry, the Financial Services Committee of the American House of Representatives has suggested that tighter regulation of the industry may be required.
Fed's Warsh on hedge fund risks
Addressing the House's Committee on Financial Services, Kevin Warsh, a member of the board of governors of the Federal Reserve, set out what the Fed sees as the risks hedge funds pose to the financial system.
Expectations not perfectly anchored, says Bernanke
Ben Bernanke, the chairman of the Federal Reserve, says inflation expectations in the United States remain "imperfectly anchored", even if they seem much better anchored now than they were a few decades ago.
Chicago Fed on subprime mortgages
A recent article by the Chicago Federal Reserve argues that the subprime mortgage market is facing substantial problems, as measured by delinquency rates, while the prime mortgage market is experiencing more typical delinquency rates, close to historical…
Madigan appointed as key aide to Bernanke
The Federal Reserve Board yesterday named Brian F. Madigan as the chief adviser on interest rates to its chairman, Ben Bernanke.Madigan will take over as director of the division of monetary affairs on 23 July.
Holograms keep currency real
A special report by the US National Research Council entitled "A Path to the Next Generation of US Banknotes: Keeping them Real," suggests that holograms have a definitive role in combating banknote counterfeiting.
Shift to e-payments leads to Fed job cuts
The US Federal Reserve reductions in cheque processing is likely to result in more than 210 jobs being cut at the Minneapolis Fed, as consumers shift from paper checks to electronic payments.
Fed keeps rates at 5.25% for 12th month
The Federal Reserve held interest rates steady 28 June, citing "modest" improvements in recent inflation readings. Fed rates have now remained at 5.25% for 12 months.
Fed to streamline cheque processing
As consumers shift to electronic payments, the Federal Reserve Banks set out plans to streamline cheque processing.
Chicago Fed's National Activity Index improves
The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago announced on 25 June that its gauge of the national economy, the National Activity Index, although negative in May, was stronger than it was a month ago because as a number of indicators showed an improvement.
Fed under fire in Washington over supervision
In spite of the successes of his first 16 months in office, the relations of Ben Bernanke, the chairman of the US Federal Reserve, with the American Congress are deteriorating as the country's central bank is threatened with having some of its authority…
Geithner on lessons from the Asian crisis
That crisis countries had fixed but adjustable pegs, was one of the main lessons Tim Geithner, the president of the New York fed, highlighted ned in a recent speech.
US treasury points to dangers of sovereign wealth
Clay Lowery, acting under-secretary for international affairs at the US treasury, has asked the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank to compile best-practice guidelines for sovereign wealth funds.
Banks still matter most - Bernanke
Federal Reserve Chairman, Ben Bernanke, says the Fed has retained the ability to control financing costs, despite the fact that nonbank lenders and capital markets have replaced banks as sources of credit for many households and businesses.
New head for Boston Fed
Eric Rosengren will become president and chief executive officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston on 23 July. He will succeed Cathy Minehan who retires after 13 years as president of the Boston Fed, and nearly 40 years of service in the Federal…
Fed's Beige Book
There was continuing weakness in residential real estate and construction but increasing strength in the commercial real estate sector, including both office and industrial space, reports the Fed's 4th Beige Book of the year.
Fed's Hoenig on recent economic developments
US economic conditions will improve in the coming months, said an optimistic Tom Hoenig, CEO of the Kansas City Fed.
Chicago Fed paper on mobile payments
Will mobile payments go the way of the stalled smart-card revolution of the 1990s? This Chicago Fed letter looks at these new payments fit into the larger payment system.
Federal Reserve: Annual Report
The Federal Reserve released its 93rd annual report on 6 June, in which it said "The US economy turned in another solid performance in 2006, although the pattern of growth was uneven."
Ball: globalisation does not affect inflation
A recent paper by Laurence Ball for the National Bureau of Economic Research suggetss that "globalisation has had little effect on the rate of inflation in the United States."