United States
Fed raises rates, says economic outlook unchanged
The Federal Open Market Committee decided on Tuesday 14 December to raise its target for the federal funds rate by 25 basis points to 2-1/4 percent. In its press release the FOMC signalled there had been no change in its assessment of current economic…
Moskow: Perspective of the Federal Reserve on HOPI
In the speech 'Perspective of the Federal Reserve on HOPI' given on 7 December Michael Moskow of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago said the Home Ownership Preservation Initiative has been an ambitious, and so far very successful, effort under the…
Fed likely to raise rates a quarter-point
Federal Reserve policy-makers were widely expected to raise target for the federal funds rate to 2.25 percent from 2 percent on Tuesday, their last regularly scheduled session of 2004.
Dallas Fed FOMC vote may go to Atlanta
The Dallas Federal Reserve said on Friday 10 December that the Atlanta Fed would temporarily take its vote next year on the US central bank's interest rate setting committee until it finds a replacement for departed President Robert McTeer.
New York Fed names new director of research
Joseph S. Tracy was named executive vice president and director of research of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on Monday 6 December.
Philadelphia Fed announces promotion
The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia announced the promotion of John D. Ackley to Treasury Services Officer on Wednesday. Ackley was a manager in the Treasury Services Department.
'The Region' from the Minneapolis Fed, Dec 2004
The Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis has published its regular magazine, The Region, for December 2004. In "The private and public risks of banking" Gary Stern warns that banking policy continues to shift too much risk taking onto the public. The…
Fed report: Banks and lenders can solicit business
The Federal Reserve said in a report published on Wednesday 8 December that consumers would suffer and pay higher prices if Congress curtailed the ability of banks and lenders to send them solicitations.
Fed's Bies on factors in risk management
In the speech 'It's not just about the models: Recognizing the importance of qualitative factors in an effective risk-management process' given on 7 December, Susan Bies of the Federal Reserve said mathematical investment models are not enough on their…
Philadelphia Fed's Santomero on global economy
In a speech on 'Challenges and opportunities in a global economy: Perspectives on outsourcing, exchange rates, and free trade' given on 3 December. Anthony Santomero of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia said the US economy should grow about 4 per…
Fed says electronic payments exceed check payments
Surveys conducted by the Federal Reserve confirm that electronic payment transactions in the United States have exceeded check payments for the first time, the Financial Services Policy Committee said on Monday 6 December.
Boston Fed's Minehan on November job report
The president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston told a conference on globalisation on Friday 3 December that the November unemployment report was "somewhat disappointing".
Interview with San Francisco Fed's Yellen
In an interview published this week, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco Janet Yellen says in her spare time she enjoys running, and has run a few half-marathons. She describes her time at the White House as exciting and interesting…
The man who shaped the Federal Reserve
A new biography, "Chairman of the Fed: William McChesney Martin Jr. and the Creation of the Modern Federal Reserve System tells Martin's story as Fed chairman from 1951, when over the next 19 years, it says, he employed a combination of diplomacy,…
Fed's Bernanke on the logic of monetary policy
In a speech on 'The logic of monetary policy' given on 2 December, Ben Bernanke of the Federal Reserve said that official short-term interest rates are not an accurate gauge of how much stimulus or restraint policy-makers intend because most decisions…
Federal Reserve Board - Beige Book, December 2004
The Federal Reserve has published its December 2004 Beige Book survey. The report finds that the US economy kept expanding from mid-October to mid-November, picking up speed in several regions of the country.
U.S. rates have to rise further says Fed's Yellen
Janet Yellen, the president of the San Francisco Fed said in a speech Wednesday many factors are restricting growth in the U.S. economy, creating "opportunities" for the Federal Reserve to pause from its path of steady rate increases.
Biern on The Bank Secrecy Act & USA Patriot Act
In testimony 'The Bank Secrecy Act and the USA Patriot Act' given on 17 November Herbert Biern of the Division of Banking Supervision and Regulation said regulators believe that banking organizations have to take reasonable and prudent steps to combat…
Revisions to Fed's payments systems risk policy
The Federal Reserve Board announced on Friday 26 November the approval of proposed revisions to its Policy on Payments System Risk (PSR Policy) addressing risk management in payments and securities settlement systems.
Richmond Fed's Economic Quarterly, Fall 2004
The Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond has published its Economic Quarterly for Fall 2004. The paper "Ricardo versus Wicksell on job losses and technological change" looks at Knut Wicksell's revisions of Ricardo's classical model with modern concepts and…
US core inflation modest says Fed's Poole
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis president William Poole said on Saturday 27 November that US core inflation is modest and the direct effect of the dollar's drop on prices has not been enormous.
Fed's Yellen says job growth is key to rate rises
Janet Yellen, president of the San Francisco Federal Reserve Bank, said in an interview published on Sunday 28 November that the Fed's pace of interest rate increases will depend on matching job growth and economic growth.
Chicago Fed National Activity Index, Oct 2004
The Chicago Fed National Activity Index (CFNAI) for October 2004 was published on 23 November. The CFNAI was +0.52 in October, up sharply from -0.04 in September. For the first time since March, all four of the broad categories of indicators that…
Fed's Bies on fair value accounting
In a speech on 'Fair value accounting' given on 18 November, Susan Bies of the Federal Reserve said the Financial Accounting Standards Board's fair value measurement standard is a good first step toward developing enhanced guidance for the estimation of…