Ben Bernanke

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Fed 'Will Get on Top of This,' Says Bernanke Mentor

Scope 'far exceeds' that of previous crises

(Newser) - Ben Bernanke has the savvy to inject enough liquidity into the US economy to push it through the current credit crisis, says a leading economist who advised the Fed chief's MIT doctoral thesis. “The Fed will get on top of this,” said Stanley Fischer, ahead of this afternoon's...

Bernanke Looks Impotent as Fed's Fixes Fail

Economic woes may be beyond cure by monetary medicine

(Newser) - Ben Bernanke has employed virtually every tool in the Federal Reserve's kit to calm markets panicked by the credit crisis, but hasn't scored any more than temporary rallies, Bloomberg reports in a look at the markets' fading faith in the Fed chief—and the Fed itself. "The Fed has...

Stocks Rebound, Countering Selloff in Financials
Stocks Rebound, Countering Selloff in Financials
Market Update
Mar 17, 2008 10:17 AM CDT

Stocks Rebound, Countering Selloff in Financials

Bear Stearns buyout sends JP Morgan up, Lehman Brothers down

(Newser) - Stocks steadied after steep early morning losses today, with the Dow actually rising 1.06 points by mid-morning, the Wall Street Journal reports. But financials were still down big, as the Bear Stearns fire sale loomed large over the market. Lehman Brothers, down 22%, was hit the worst, other than...

Fed Cuts Bank Discount Rate to Boost Liquidity

Latest step to stem worsening credit crisis and bolster panicky markets

(Newser) - The Federal Reserve raced to buck up an anxious financial sector today by cutting its discount rate to banks by a quarter point, to 3.25%, the AP reports. It also created a new lending facility to aid investment banks with short-term loans. The moves are "designed to bolster...

Bernanke Tosses Out His Rule Book

As Wall Streets meltdown accelerates, the Fed chief adapts on the fly

(Newser) - With a recession and worsening meltdown on Wall Street looming, Fed chief Ben Bernanke has dumped textbook central bank economic policy, reports the New York Times. Last week's bailout of Bear Stearns, for example, seemed to fly in the face of his previous reluctance to rescue big institutions. And it...

Dollar Makes Comeback as Banks Predict Intervention

Greenback back above 100 yen, gains on euro

(Newser) - The dollar made a recovery today after yesterday's disastrous fall, pulling back above 100 yen and gaining against the euro and the pound. The greenback's advance comes as securities firms speculated that the Fed and other central banks will collaborate to safeguard the dollar for the first time in 13...

Fed Pours $200B Into Global Credit Relief Push

Central banks around the world try to ease liquidity problem

(Newser) - The Fed will inject huge quantities of cash into financial markets as part of a coordinated global attack on the credit crisis, Ben Bernanke announced today. The central bank will loan out another $200 billion, this time on a 28-day basis rather than overnight, the AP reports. The effort will...

Fed Pumps Money Into Reeling Banks
Fed Pumps Money Into Reeling Banks
Mar 7, 2008 12:02 PM CST

Fed Pumps Money Into Reeling Banks

It will loan billions more this month to ease credit crisis

(Newser) - The Federal Reserve will lend more money to banks in March in a bid to ease the worsening credit crisis, Bloomberg reports. By dramatically increasing the funds available in two upcoming auctions—from $30 billion to $50 billion—the Fed hopes to convince banks to loosen up and lend more.

US Sees Worst Decline in Jobs Since 2003

Payrolls dropped by 63,000; recession fears intensify

(Newser) - The US lost 63,000 jobs in February, the second straight month payrolls contracted and the worst drop since 2003, catching economists off guard and fanning fears of recession anew, Bloomberg reports. Economists hoped the economy would add 23,000 jobs after declining a modest 17,000 in January, when...

Stocks Recover After Big Losses
Stocks Recover After Big Losses
MARKETS
Mar 4, 2008 3:49 PM CST

Stocks Recover After Big Losses

Talk of Ambac bailout leads to late rally

(Newser) - News of an impending bailout for bond insurer Ambac helped the markets recover from steep losses and end today's session down only slightly, MarketWatch reports. Down by 200 points at 2:30, the Dow closed only 45.10 down, ending at 12,213.80. The Nasdaq rose 1.68 to...

Bernanke: Homeowners Need More Help

Fed chief calls for writing down problem mortgages' principal

(Newser) - Ben Bernanke says homeowners need more help, and that help might include writing down the principal on some problem loans, reports the Wall Street Journal.  "Efforts by both government and private-sector entities to reduce unnecessary foreclosures are helping, but more can, and should, be done,"  the...

Stocks Tumble on Weak Data
Stocks Tumble on Weak Data
MARKETS
Feb 28, 2008 3:56 PM CST

Stocks Tumble on Weak Data

Dow drops 112 points on sluggish growth, rising jobless claims

(Newser) - Stocks fell more than they had in a week today amid reports of sluggish economic growth, rising jobless claims, and fears of failing banks, Bloomberg reports. The Dow fell 112.10 points to 12,582.18, the Nasdaq fell 22.21 points to 2,331.57, and the S&P...

Paulson Raps Mortgage Rescue Plans
Paulson Raps Mortgage Rescue Plans
Feb 28, 2008 7:06 AM CST

Paulson Raps Mortgage Rescue Plans

Says taxpayers shouldn't finance 'bailouts' for reckless lenders and borrowers

(Newser) - Homeowners burned by the subprime mortgage meltdown shouldn't be looking to the federal government for help, Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson told the Wall Street Journal yesterday. Facing down mounting congressional pressure for stronger measures to stem an epidemic of foreclosures, Paulson dismissed proposals on the table as "bailouts" for...

Despite Fed, Silicon Valley Bullish on Economy

Many tech workers not seeing US slump

(Newser) - Ben Bernanke’s report to Congress on monetary policy offered a grim outlook on the economy, but ABC News sees some signs that good news may be around the corner: workers in Silicon Valley, a national economic bellwether, feel good about their prospects. Rising exports, the recently-passed stimulus package and...

Stocks Flat After Roller Coaster
Stocks Flat After Roller Coaster
MARKETS
Feb 27, 2008 3:21 PM CST

Stocks Flat After Roller Coaster

Market buffeted by more ugly data, soothing Bernanke testimony

(Newser) - Stocks ended mainly flat after mixed news had indices seesawing throughout today's session, the Wall Street Journal reports. Economic news was bad in general, but Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke and housing regulators cheered the markets with upbeat comments. The Dow ended up 9.36 to 12,694.28, the...

Bernanke Signals New Rate Cuts
Bernanke Signals New Rate Cuts
Feb 27, 2008 9:15 AM CST

Bernanke Signals New Rate Cuts

Says central bank 'will act as needed' to further minimize economic risks

(Newser) - Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke today said that the board stands ready to cut interest rates again to give the economy "adequate insurance against downside risks," reports the Wall Street Journal. The move, which follows 2.25% in cuts to the key rate since September, is widely expected...

Dollar Slides to Record Low; Oil Tops $102

Investors bet on Fed rate cut, driving euro up against US currency

(Newser) - The dollar declined against most major currencies and fell to its lowest level ever against the euro today as markets anticipated another rate cut from the Fed when it meets March 18, increasing the value of assets outside the US, Bloomberg reports. The dollar’s erosion pushed commodity prices up,...

Wholesale Inflation Surges
Wholesale Inflation Surges
Feb 26, 2008 10:06 AM CST

Wholesale Inflation Surges

Producer prices lap analyst estimates

(Newser) - Wholesale prices rose more than twice as fast as analysts predicted in January, in the latest sign that inflation is outstripping growth, Bloomberg reports. After a 0.3% drop in December, finished good prices rose 1% last month, with the core indicator up 0.4%, its biggest gain in almost...

Fed Sees Slower Growth, Higher Unemployment

Reserve officials sharply reduce economic forecast

(Newser) - The Federal Reserve issued a bleak assessment of the economy today, predicting weak growth and rising unemployment this year. Fed officials expect the economy to grow between 1.3% and 2% in 2008, the slowest in five years, the New York Times reports. A separate report today showed consumer prices...

Inflation Spikes, Cut in Jeopardy
Inflation Spikes, Cut in Jeopardy
Feb 20, 2008 9:04 AM CST

Inflation Spikes, Cut in Jeopardy

Fed may have hands tied, as CPI soars past expectations

(Newser) - Core inflation bounded ahead of expectations in January, which is bad news for anyone betting on a big rate cut from the Fed–and for the Fed itself. The consumer price index rose 0.4%, with core CPI rising 0.3%, putting the year-over-year figures at 4.3% and 2....

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