Merkel Rips the Fed for Deepening Crisis

(NEWSER) - Ben Bernanke patted himself on the back today for helping to save the world from a complete economic meltdown, MarketWatch reports. Facing public outrage and the prospect of President Obama dumping him in 6 months, the Fed chair said at a retreat in Wyoming that the world’s central banks “responded with speed and force" to "a rapidly deteriorating and dangerous situation." More»

Central bank chief says nations must get the last effort right

(NEWSER) - The head of the European Central Bank says the continent does not need to spend more to combat recession, heightening the standoff between Washington and European governments over response to the financial crisis. In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Jean-Claude Trichet said governments should concentrate on executing measures they’ve already introduced—referring to delays in the US rescue of troubled banks. More»

Biz slows as bailout talks stall

(NEWSER) - The world's central banks are frantically spraying money into the economy to prevent it from seizing up as the US bailout package stalls and confidence plummets, Reuters reports. The holdup in Washington has made edgy commercial banks even more inclined to hoard cash and not lend to each other—leaving central banks with little choice but to step in. More»

Effects of worldwide effort on markets still unfolding

(NEWSER) - The Fed has joined forces with central banks in Europe, Japan and Canada to pump more dollars into the global financial system in a bid to fend off economic catastrophe, Bloomberg reports. The funds—$180 billion from the Federal Reserve and nearly as much from the other banks—are being made available for auction to global money markets in an effort to ease the crisis created by the collapse of Lehman Brothers and deepening fears about the economy, reports the New York Times. More»

Central bank's new roles stretch balance sheet to the limit

(NEWSER) - The Fed's mammoth bailout of financial firms is unprecedented in the history of the central bank, which now must play new and contradictory roles, the New York Times reports. The Fed has often been called the nation's lender of last resort—but the acquisition of AIG and holding of Bear Stears securities now also make it the investor of last resort. More»