United States
Fed should hold
The uncertainty over the impending war in Iraq and the Fed's diminishing policy options mean that, despite weak data, a wait-and-see is the strategy for the open market committee, which meets tomorrow, argues the FT's editorial.
Split over Iraq may hit new Basel bank rules
A report in the Financial Times suggests the new Basel 2 rules update may suffer damage from the transatlantic war split and signs exist of a loss of patience with the long drawn out discussions. The result could be a degrading of the accord, the report…
Kansas City Fed's Hoenig:Community banks important
Kansas Fed President Thomas Hoenig said on Friday March 14 that community banks are important to the financial system by specializing in relationship banking and providing credit to small businesses, according to a report by Reuters.
Richmond Fed top discount-rate hawk
Recent analysis of FOMC voting between 1993 and 2002 has shown that the Richmond Fed is the most hawkish of the regional Fed banks whilst the Dallas Fed was the greatest dove, according to a Reuters report. The research also showed that recommendations…
Ex-governor Rivlin says Fed is out of ammunition
Ex Federal Reserve governor Alice Rivlin has said that the central bank is out of ammunition and that fiscal policy makers are better placed now to step in, if the US economy declines further, according to a Dow Jones report.
Greenspan on Global Finance, Is it slowing?
SPEECH - In the speech 'Global Finance: Is It Slowing?' Alan Greenspan of the Federal Reserve said a diversified and innovative global financial system has helped the U.S. economy weather a string of jolts and that despite terrorist attacks and fears…
Fed's Gramlich: Iraq impact 'imponderable'
Ed Gramlich of the Federal Reserve said on Thursday that a conflict with Iraq would have consequences for the US and world economy but that the effects were impossible to predict.
Kohn testimony on Business Checking Freedom Act
SPEECH - The Fed backs paying interest on checking accounts, Fed Governor Donald Kohn said in testimony before Congress on 6 March. "Unnecessary restrictions on the payment of interest on demand deposits at depository institutions and on balances held at…
Parry on prospects for local and national economy
SPEECH - In the speech 'Prospects for the National and Local Economies: A Monetary Policymaker's View' Robert Parry of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco said "If it were called for we still have room to give a boost to the economy, even in the…
Guynn on the road to recovery
SPEECH - In the speech 'The Road to Recovery and an Atlanta Perspective' Jack Guynn of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta said that this recovery was different from previous ones. The big difference in this recovery, Guynn said, is that there has been…
Federal Reserve Board - Beige Book, March 2003
REPORT - The Federal Reserve Beige Book released 5 March said the U.S. economy "remained subdued" in the past two months as the prospect of war with Iraq constrained consumer and business spending, the Federal Reserve said in its latest survey of…
Fed's beige book - growth 'subdued' in early 2003
The Federal Reserve Beige Book released Wednesday showed that growth remained subdued in January and February. The evidence contained in the report forms a major part of the Fed's decision making process on the interest rate setting FOMC.
Kohn on the strength in consumer durables
SPEECH - In the speech 'The Strength in Consumer Durables and Housing: Policy Stabilization or Problem in the Making?' Donald Kohn of the Federal Reserve said it seems likely that as the economy strengthens and interest rates rise in response, household…
St. Louis Fed wears many banking hats
ARTICLE - This article takes a look inside the St Louis Federal Reserve Bank and examines its operations including payment systems.
Greenspan on the Home Mortgage Market
SPEECH - In the speech 'Home Mortgage Market' Alan Greenspan of the Federal Reserve said borrowing against home equity has been a staple of household finance for decades, but that it has been only in the past decade or so that such practices have been…
OCC blow to Basel II timing
Hopes of finalising the new Basel capital accord in 2003 took a blow Monday as US Comptroller of the Currency John D. Hawke said in a speech that the OCC would insist on changes to the accord if, after a round of public consultation, US banks were not…
Bies on retirement savings, equity ownership
SPEECH - In the speech 'Retirement Savings, Equity Ownership, and Challenges to Investors' Susan Schmidt Bies of the Federal Reserve said the importance of longer-term trends in pension plans and equity ownership has been highlighted by tumbling stock…
Chicago Fed National Activity Index, January 2003
REPORT - CFNAI Shows U.S. Economy Improved in January - In January, the Chicago Fed National Activity Index (CFNAI) moved above zero for the first time since last July. The January reading was +0.38, a substantial improvement from December and the…
US bank regulators differ on international rules
Roger Ferguson has supported Basel II saying we have no alternative but to adopt the accord as soon as possible. But the rules were described as being too complex and rigid for what is needed at the same hearing by the Comptroller of the Currency John…
New York Fed on Current Issues
RESEARCH - The February 2003 edition of the New York Fed's 'Current Issues in Economics and Finance' contains an article titled 'New York City's Economy before and after September 11'. An analysis of employment and income trends suggests that the…
Greenspan on Aging global population
SPEECH - At a time when demographic factors are strongly affecting economic policy in many countries, Alan Greenspan yesterday told the Senate's Special Committee on Aging that at some point policy-makers will have to face up the fact that as the baby…
US Fed's Ferguson backs new world bank rules
Roger Ferguson said on Thursday that criticism of the Basel II rules have not convinced the Federal Reserve that the agreement should be scrapped.
Greenspan testimony on deposit insurance
SPEECH - In testimony titled 'Deposit insurance' Alan Greenspan of the Federal Reserve reiterated the central bank's opposition to raising the $100,000 limit on deposit insurance coverage, saying there would be no "clear public benefit" to the move.
Survey of Professional Forecasters
SURVEY - The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia has published its Survey of Professional Forecasters for the First Quarter 2003. The economy will grow slowly over the first half of the year, according to 37 forecasters surveyed. However, the…