Bank of England Cuts Interest Rate

(NEWSER) - 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 unemployment rate to keep rising as the GDP contracts. More»

Target is record low as Reserve battles recession

(AP) - The Federal Reserve today cut its target for a key interest rate to the lowest level on record and pledged to use "all available tools" to combat a severe financial crisis and prolonged recession. The central bank says it reduced the federal funds rate, the interest that banks charge each other, to a range of 0% to 0.25%. More»

British currency falls to $1.56 amid recession fears

(NEWSER) - The British economy shrank by 0.5% last quarter, all but confirming that the UK is in its first recession since 1991, reports the Times of London. The decline is greater than expected, and this week both the prime minister and the head of the Bank of England acknowledged that a recession is likely. The news sent the pound falling, dipping to $1.56 for the first time in five years. More»

US, EU, UK, others offer 50-point reduction to reverse diving markets

(NEWSER) - The Federal Reserve and five other central banks cut interest rates by 50 basis points in an emergency attempt to stem the economic effects of the credit crisis, reports Bloomberg. The move brings the American benchmark rate to just 1.5%, while the European Central Bank and the monetary authorities of the UK, Canada, Switzerland, and Sweden all joined in the action. China also cut rates by more than a quarter-point. More»

As economy deteriorates, inflation becomes less of a concern

(NEWSER) - Mounting fears that the credit crisis and continually worsening economic data will push a stagnant US economy into a severe recession has spurred the Federal Reserve to consider cutting interest rates from their current 2%, the Wall Street Journal reports. Even if the House follows the Senate in passing the $700 billion bailout, some action is likely. More»