Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Hot on Facebook
Man Tries to Order Priciest Starbucks Drink Ever Total cost: $23.60 »

Fed Pledges $600B to Keep Money-Market Funds Afloat

Will partner with JPMorgan, lend money to help cover redemptions

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 21, 2008 11:17 AM CDT

(Newser) – The Federal Reserve today unveiled a $600 billion program to finance the purchase of assets from money-market mutual funds, Bloomberg reports. JPMorgan will oversee five special units, which will use money borrowed from the Fed to buy CDs, bank notes, and commercial paper nearing maturity. The program is the Fed’s attempt at loosening the commercial paper market.

Money-market funds are struggling to keep up as clients cash out of the volatile market, with the collapse of Lehman Brothers prompting investors to yank $133 billion from funds over the next two days. “In terms of the redemptions money-market funds are seeing, and hedge funds as well, any of these moves by the Fed are going to help,” said one fund founder.

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke testifies on Capitol Hill yesterday.
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke testifies on Capitol Hill yesterday.   (AP Photo)
A pedestrian walks by an electric market board with an image of Ben Bernanke in central Tokyo today.
A pedestrian walks by an electric market board with an image of Ben Bernanke in central Tokyo today.   (AP Photo)
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke testifies before the House Budget Committee yesterday.
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke testifies before the House Budget Committee yesterday.   (AP Photo)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Be the first to comment on this story.

More Newser Stories

Fed Will Buy Up Short-Term Debt to Boost Credit

Bernanke Tosses Out His Rule Book

Foreign Banks Got Majority of Secret Fed Loans

Fed Earns Record $45B

'Formidable Headwinds' Hinder Recovery: Bernanke


NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne