United States
NY Fed's Geithner on global imbalances
In the speech 'Policy implications of global imbalances' given on 23 January Timothy Geithner of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York said the massive and growing U.S. current account deficit presents a threat to the world economy and an eventual…
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…
Richmond's Lacker on the economic outlook for 2006
In the speech 'The economic outlook for 2006' given on 18 January, Jeffrey Lacker of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond said it's still "too soon" to say the threat to inflation presented by soaring energy prices is over.
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".
SF Fed's Yellen on 2006: A year of transition
In the speech '2006: A year of transition at the Federal Reserve' given on 19 January Janet Yellen of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco said a quantified inflation target would help the Federal Reserve meet policy challenges and its adoption…
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.
Philadelphia Fed Business Outlook Survey, Jan 2006
According to the firms surveyed for the Philadelphia Fed's Business Outlook Survey, January 2006, activity in the region's manufacturing sector continued to expand at the beginning of 2006.
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.
Lacker sees continued clarity move for Fed
Richmond Fed president Jeffrey Lacker said Friday 20 January that Fed chairman-nominee Ben Bernanke will maintain the shift toward greater policy transparency.
Federal Reserve Board - Beige Book, January 2006
The Federal Reserve published its January 2006 Beige Book survey on 18 January. US economic activity increased across the country in the last several weeks of 2005, but rising energy costs worried businesses in some areas, the report said.
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.
Bernanke must prove mettle with rate hike
What the financial markets want from a new Fed chairman are several attributes, among them technical competence and independence, according to this article published on Tuesday 17 January. To prove he's the right person for the job, Ben Bernanke must…
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.
US's Snow says some dollar reserves shift normal
U.S. Treasury Secretary John Snow said on Friday 13 January some countries' movement of reserves out of dollar-denominated assets would have only a small impact on U.S. markets.