Federal Open Market Committee news stories on Newser

Dow Surges 168 on Fed Hopes

Nick McMaster — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 15:40:22 CDT

Stocks gained today but ended off session highs after good news from a key Federal Reserve body, the Wall Street Journal reports. The Open Market Committee said it saw evidence the economy is stabilizing, and the Fed said it may increase purchases of Treasury securities to lower borrowing costs. The...

Retailers Gain; Dow Climbs 48

Nick McMaster — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 15:28:50 CDT

Stocks posted gains today after dipping into the red after the release of minutes from the Fed open market committee’s March meeting, during which forecasts were lowered, the Wall Street Journal reports. Family Dollar Stores' strong earnings report encouraged investors, and the consumer and retail sectors saw broad advances. The...

'Massive' Asset Purchases Likely Loom for Bernanke

Rob Quinn — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 07:05:00 CDT

The Federal Reserve is expected to step up its buying of mortgage securities after policymakers meet today and tomorrow, Bloomberg reports. The outlook for the economy and job market has gotten bleaker since the Federal Open Market Committee last met 6 weeks ago and analysts believe Ben Bernanke is likely...

Fed Sees Recession Lingering Through '09

Harry Kimball — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 16:09:24 CST

The Federal Reserve anticipates the recession will continue through 2009 despite its recent rate slash and other planned “nontraditional policies,” the Wall Street Journal reports. Minutes of the Fed's December 15-16 meeting, at which it cut rates to nearly zero, indicate a deep pessimism about the economy. Officials expect the...

Dow Falls 427 to Below 8,000

Nick McMaster — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 15:21:39 CST

Stocks plunged today on a spread of bad economic news, including signs that the housing market is not improving and dire predictions by the Federal Reserve’s interest-rate committee, the Wall Street Journal reports. The Dow fell 427.47 to close at 7,997.28. The Nasdaq lost 96.85, settling...

Bernanke Signals New Rate Cuts

Polly Davis Doig — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 09:15:00 CST

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 at the...

Fed Remains Open to More Rate Cuts

Dustin Lushing — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 19:33:41 CST

Fed officials will consider deeper rate cuts and a "substantial further easing of policy" if the turmoil in the credit and housing markets continues, according to minutes of last month's meeting. Officials displayed surprise at the extent of the housing crisis and acknowledged that market strains "could persist for quite...

Housing Still a Drag: Fed Chief

Peter Fearon — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 05:38:58 CDT

The real estate slump will continue to be a "significant drag" on US economic growth well into next year, said Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke in his first speech on the economy since August. Recovery from the credit crisis will take time, and setbacks are likely, Bernanke told the Economic...