United States
Comment: Bernanke's debut
New Fed chairman, Ben Bernanke, provided little further insight into the likely further path of interest rates in the US on Wednesday. On the whole he painted a fairly rosy picture of the economy's health - both in a cyclical and structural sense. His…
Phil Fed's Survey of Professional Forecasters
The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia published its First Quarter 2005 Survey of Professional Forecasters on 13 February. The U.S. economy will grow strongly in the first quarter, following unexpectedly slow growth in last year's fourth quarter,…
Greenspan remains relevant in gold debate
This article published on Friday 10 February looks at recent comments by Alan Greenspan that the recent strength of the gold price is all down to the uncertain international political situation. Overnight developments in the US support Greenspan's thesis…
Pianalto on economic forecasts and monetary policy
In the speech 'Economic forecasts and monetary policy' given on 13 February Sandra Pianalto of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland said recent economic reports offer hints that the US economy may have rebounded from the weakness seen in the last three…
Alan Greenspan in memoir talks
According to Reuters, Alan Greenspan is in talks with major publishers about writing a memoir and bidding has already hit $5 million.
Fed announces Michelle Smith to stay on
The Federal Reserve Board on Friday announced that Michelle A. Smith will continue in her position as Assistant to the Board and Director of the Office of Board Members. The Board had previously announced that she would be leaving to work for former…
Snow says G8 shares responsibility for imbalances
Group of Eight finance ministers believed global growth prospects remained strong but they shared a responsibility to reduce imbalances which threaten the outlook, U.S. Treasury Secretary John Snow said Saturday.
'Greatest central banker ever' comes down a peg
This article published on Thursday 9 February looks at recent comments by ex Fed chief Alan Greenspan. It was his comments on the likely future course of interest rates that will tarnish his legacy as ``the greatest central banker who ever lived,'' it…
Chicago Fed's Moskow on the US economic outlook
In the speech 'US economic outlook' given on 9 February Michael Moskow of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago said U.S. interest rates are at a neutral level, but further increases - even preemptive ones - may be needed depending on how inflation…
Warsh's Fed nomination draws criticism, confusion
President Bush's nomination of the 35-year-old White House aide Kevin Warsh for a seat on the Federal Reserve's board has been greeted with criticism and bewilderment by some former Fed officials and economists, according to this article published on…
Comment: Bernanke gets more time
The new Fed chairman, Ben Bernanke, will have an extra day to listen to different opinions and pore over the latest data on the American economy at his first FOMC meeting. Yesterday's news that the March 28 meeting will be expanded could increase…
Fed's Fischer on global growth dynamics
In this speech given at the Institute of Economic Affairs in London on February 6, 2006, the president of the Dallas Fed, Richard W. Fisher, suggests that the United States will remain the growth engine for the global economy for some time to come.
Bernanke's remarks at swearing-in ceremony
Ben Bernanke made some brief remarks after being sworn in as chairman of the US Federal Reserve by president, George W Bush, on February 6, 2002.
Bies on continuous challenges of risk management
In the speech 'The continuous challenges of risk management' given on 2 February Susan Schmidt Bies of the Federal Reserve said regulators are concerned about heavy commercial real estate exposures and risky mortgage lending practices at U.S. banks.
Rato at the farewell dinner for Alan Greenspan
In remarks at the farewell dinner for Alan Greenspan on 24 January (published 2 Feb) IMF Managing Director Rodrigo de Rato said there are many reasons to envy Alan: not just his economic savvy and ability to move financial markets with a few well-chosen…
New Fed chair has passion for equations
This article published on Thursday 2 February takes an in-depth look at Ben Bernanke. The new Fed chief, it says, wants to strip away some of the mystery of the Fed and come out with an inflation range to aim for over the medium or long term.
Greenspan goes out with final jab at inflation
The Federal Reserve's decision to increase interest rates again left open the possibility of another increase next month in a smooth handoff of the Fed policy baton from Greenspan to Ben Bernanke, this article published on Wednesday 1 February says.
Bernanke inherits an experienced Fed staff
Alan Greenspan's legacy includes a Fed full of battle-tested veterans who helped him calm the markets and steer the U.S. economy through September 11, the 1987 stock market crash, the international currency crises of the 1990s and two recessions,…
Ben Bernanke sworn in as Fed chairman
Ben Bernanke on Wednesday 1 February became the fourteenth Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Chairman of the Federal Open Market Committee, succeeding Alan Greenspan.
Fed raises rates, drops 'measured' stance
The Federal Open Market Committee decided on Tuesday to raise its target for the federal funds rate by 25 basis points to 4-1/2 percent. In its statement the FOMC dropped "is likely" and replaced it with "may," regarding further policy firming.
Comment: Bernanke's options kept open
Subtle changes in the wording of the Fed's latest monetary policy statement leaves new chairman, Ben Bernanke, with more wiggle-room than may have been expected. Markets will become very sensitive to incoming data and will look to Bernanke's Capitol Hill…
Bernanke becomes Fed chairman, but without a seat
Alan Greenspan celebrated his final day as Federal Reserve chairman with a lunch of grilled salmon and chocolate cake. He also received various gifts from his colleagues, including his boardroom chair.
Greenspan critics are off base on his legacy
As Alan Greenspan prepares to relinquish the Federal Reserve chairmanship on Tuesday 31 January, a cottage industry has sprung up questioning the strength of his legacy. Most of the criticism is off base, according to this article published on Monday.
Bernanke - Be tough, independent, raise rates
As Ben Bernanke takes over the reins at the Federal Reserve after his all-but-certain confirmation on Tuesday 31 January , Washington is bracing itself, according to this article published Monday, for the kind of noisy Fed transition it hasn't…