Fed Sticks to Stimulus Plan, Warns Growth Hampered by Budget Cuts
The Fed is sticking with its bond-buying plan to push down borrowing costs and prop up the economy, citing risks to growth from recent budget tightening in Washington.
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No Surprises Expected as Fed Ends 2-Day Meeting
The Federal Reserve is widely expected Wednesday to stick with its aggressive efforts to strengthen a still-subpar economy.
Stocks Close Lower for Fifth Day Straight
The Dow Jones industrial average closed lower for the fifth straight day as worries about sluggish economic growth weighed on markets. The Dow ended the day down 49 points at 12,605, after minutes from a Federal Reserve meeting highlighted concerns about the U.S. economy.
Fed Extends 'Twist' Program to Drive Interest Rates Lower
The Federal Reserve acted Wednesday to lift an economy that's being held back by a weakened job market, extending a program designed to spur borrowing and spending through lower long-term interest rates.
The Fed Has Decided to Do Nothing -- and That's a Good Thing
Here's a quick primer on the Fed, why you never want a central bank to have to do anything, and the reason why we all hang on Ben Bernanke's every word.
Fed Notes Better Economy, Takes No Policy Action
The Federal Reserve offered a more positive view of the economy after a burst of hiring since its last meeting. It held off taking further steps to boost the recovery and reiterated its plan to keep short-term interest rates near zero until at least late 2014. The Fed's statement issued after Tuesday's one-day meeting was more upbeat than the one it released in January.
All Areas of the Country Show Growth, Fed Reports
The U.S. economy started the year off well with busier factories, higher retail sales, more jobs and growth in home sales. The Federal Reserve said Wednesday that all 12 of its banking districts reported some level of growth in January and the first half of February. Manufacturing output rose in all districts. Auto manufacturing, steel makers and other metal producers all reported solid growth.
Fed Unlikely to Raise Rates Until at Least 2014
The Federal Reserve went further than ever Wednesday to assure consumers and businesses that they'll be able to borrow cheaply well into the future. The Fed pushed back the earliest date for any likely increase in its benchmark interest rate by at least a year and a half, until at least late 2014. It said record-low rates are still needed to help boost an improving but still sluggish economy.
Bonds Beat Stocks in 2011, But Don't Bet on a Repeat
For the first time in several decades, the 30-year annualized returns of Treasury bonds surpassed the dividend adjusted gains of the S&P 500 in 2011. Take a picture if you want -- because this won't last.
Fed Survey Shows Economy Ended 2011 with Strength
The final weeks of 2011 were among the economy's strongest as Americans shopped and traveled more, ending the year with a shot of optimism for 2012. That's the bright picture the Federal Reserve sketched in a survey released Wednesday.
Fed to Regularly Forecast Interest-Rate Changes
In a major shift, the Federal Reserve will start updating the public four times a year on how long it plans to keep short-term interest rates at record lows, according to minutes from its December policy meeting. The first forecast will be included in the central bank's economic projections after its Jan. 24-25 meeting, the minutes said.
Fed Takes No New Action at Final Meeting of 2011
The Federal Reserve says the economy has grown moderately as hiring and consumer spending have improved. As a result, it's holding off on any new steps to boost the economy. But Fed officials, noting that unemployment remains high and global economic growth has slowed, left open the possibility of taking new steps next year if the economy worsens.
Fed Nearing a Plan to Clarify Direction of Rates
The Federal Reserve under Ben Bernanke has gone further than ever to explain its policies to the public. It's ready to go further still. A Fed policy meeting Tuesday will likely focus in part on an evolving plan to reveal the direction of interest rates more explicitly.
Fed to Test Six Big Banks for Euro Stress
The Federal Reserve plans to stress test six large U.S. banks against a hypothetical market shock, including a deterioration of the European debt crisis, as part of an annual review of bank health. The Fed said it will publish next year the results of the tests for six banks that have large trading operations: Bank of America, Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, Morgan Stanley and Wells Fargo.
Fed Holds Off On Further Actions To Help Economy
The Federal Reserve is holding off on any new actions to help the economy because stronger growth is giving it time to gauge the impact of steps it's already taken. Fed policymakers made the announcement after a two-day meeting.