Bernanke: Hero on Wall Street, Despised in Congress

(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»

2010 will be 'year of recovery'

(NEWSER) - If the government’s plans work, the recession will be over by the end of this year, Ben Bernanke told senators today, making 2010 a “year of recovery.” But, the Wall Street Journal reports, the Federal Reserve chief pointed to continuing storm clouds, saying the US is undergoing a “severe contraction,” and that “the downside risks probably outweigh those on the upside.” More»

Collapse would have spread throughout economy, they argue

(NEWSER) - Bear Stearns was just hours from collapse, and letting it go down would have been disastrous, executives and regulators argued on Capital Hill today while defending the controversial bailout, the New York Times reports. Without the takeover, “we would all be facing a far more dire set of challenges,” said JPMorgan CEO James Dimon, citing the possibility of a mass run on other investment banks. More»

The 16-7 vote reveals unease about Fed chairman

(NEWSER) - The Senate banking panel endorsed Ben Bernanke’s nomination for a second term atop the Fed, but it was hardly a slam dunk for Time’s new person of the year. The 16-7 vote was a far cry from his original, near-unanimous appointment, with only four of the committee’s 10 Republicans voting for him. Jim Bunning spent 20 minutes berating him, noting that past Time honorees have included Richard Nixon, Joseph Stalin, and Adolf Hitler. More»

Weak credit and labor markets mean recovery will be slow: Fed chair

(NEWSER) - Ben Bernanke painted a stark picture of the economy today, warning that "formidable headwinds" are working against the incipient recovery. Despite an unexpectedly positive jobs report, the pace of expansion is likely to remain "moderate," the Fed chair said. “Despite the general improvement in financial conditions, credit remains tight for many borrowers,” and the job market “remains weak,” Bernanke said in a speech to the Economic Club of Washington. More»