Jan 28 Watch Fed Vows to Use ‘All Available Tools’ to Prop Up Economy The Fed has been extraordinarily active in recent months, and there are some calls now to expand its future role as a financial regulator. Analysts examine the Fed's evolving role. Continue watching
Jan 28 Fed Leaves Key Rate at Record Low, Vows to Use All Tools to Help Economy By PBS News Hour Acknowledging that the economy has continued to deteriorate, the Federal Reserve signaled Wednesday that it will continue to use unconventional tools to cushion the fallout, including keeping a key interest rate at a record low for quite "some time."… Continue reading
Jan 16 Bank of America Posts Big Losses, Citigroup Splits in Two By PBS News Hour Bank of America posted its first quarterly loss in 17 years and received a boost from the government while Citigroup reported a fourth-quarter loss of $8.29 billion and decided to split up its businesses in a new round of gloomy… Continue reading
Dec 18 Are Banks Really Making Short Term Loans to Other Banks for Zero Interest? Question/Comment: When people speak of the Fed funds rate being zero, does that mean that banks are literally making short-term loans to other banks for NO INTEREST WHATSOEVER?… Continue reading
Dec 16 Watch Restoring Consumer Confidence Proves Tricky Task The Fed's dramatic interest rate cut is an attempt to increase borrowing and spending. While the government tries to tamp down fears that are lowering consumer confidence, Paul Solman examines what it takes to report the economic indicator. Continue watching
Dec 16 Watch Fed Employs Bold Rate Cut to Boost Economic Growth The Fed slashed the target for a key interest rate to a record low of zero percent to a quarter point on Tuesday. Financial analysts examine the possible impact of the Fed's move. Continue watching
Dec 16 Federal Reserve Cuts Key Rate to Record Low By Admin, PBS News Hour The Federal Reserve cut a key interest rate to an all-time low target range of zero to 0.25 percent Tuesday in an effort to fight the deepening recession. Continue reading
Dec 10 Watch Investors Turn to Low-risk Securities With Little Return As economic turmoil continues to rock the financial market, some investors are more willing to buy U.S. Treasury securities with low or zero yields in the short term. Analysts examine how the struggling economy is driving investors to minimal-risk investments. Continue watching
Dec 04 Watch Treasury Considers New Plan to Push Mortgage Rates Lower, Boost Home Sales In an effort to boost the economy, Treasury Department officials are considering a plan to push mortgage rates lower. Reporters and analysts weigh the pros and cons of such a move. Continue watching
Nov 25 Watch Government Widens Support for Home Loans, Credit In an effort to boost economic activity, the Fed and the Treasury announced new plans to boost consumer spending and aid the housing market. Economic analysts examine the Fed's expanding role in managing the crisis. Continue watching