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Stocks Sink as Bernanke Hints at Rate Cut

After early optimistic surge, Dow falls 300 points

By the Associated Press

Posted Oct 7, 2008 1:28 PM CDT
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(AP) – Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke warned today that the financial crisis has not only darkened the country's current economic performance but also could prolong the pain. The Fed chief's gloomy assessment appeared to hint of an interest rate cut on or before the Fed’s next meeting later this month. Despite the sign of a possible rate cut, the Dow was down around 300 points midday.

Bernanke said the Fed will "need to consider" whether its current stance of holding rates steady "remains appropriate" given the fallout from the worst financial crisis in decades. If the Fed does lower its key rate from 2% it would mark an about-face. The Fed halted in June an aggressive rate-cutting campaign to revive the economy out of fear those low rates would aggravate inflation.

Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke is seen on a television screen on the New York Stock Exchange trading floor today during his luncheon address to the National Association for Business Economics.
Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke is seen on a television screen on the New York Stock Exchange trading floor today during his luncheon address to the National Association for Business Economics.   (AP Photo)
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, right, accompanied by Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, testifies on Capitol Hill.
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, right, accompanied by Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, testifies on Capitol Hill.   (AP Photo)
Ben Bernanke testifies before the House Financial Services Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington.
Ben Bernanke testifies before the House Financial Services Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington.   (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, file)
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Ben Bernanke • stock market • Federal Reserve • Dow Jones • interest rate • interest rate cut • economy • financial crisis

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