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NEWS ABOUT: Ben Bernanke

Fed Earns Record $45B

Efforts to save economy result in windfall

(Newser) - The Federal Reserve's efforts to keep the economy afloat last year earned it the highest profits in its 96-year history. The Fed—which funds itself and turns its earnings over to the Treasury—made a total of $45 billion last year, dwarfing the profits of many big banks. Interest on... More »

Ignore Glimmers of Hope, Economy's Still in the Tank

If Obama takes his foot off the gas, it'll be 1937 all over again

(Newser) - Don’t believe the hype, ignore any rising GDP or employment figures, and whatever you do don’t call it a recovery—or we’re going to wind up right back where we started, argues Paul Krugman in the New York Times . There are indeed positive numbers coming, and with... More »

Bernanke: Interest Rates May Rise

Fed chair leaves door open, but emphasizes reform

(AP) - Ben Bernanke today left the door open to higher interest rates, saying the increase might be needed to prevent new speculative investment bubbles from forming. But for critics who blame the Fed for feeding that speculative housing boom by holding interest rates too low for too long after the 2001... More »

10 Lies Wall St. Told Us in '09

It's been a bumper year for BS from the big banks, writes Nomi Prins

(Newser) - As Wall Street happily trots off into 2009's sunset, same old bad habits in tow, things aren't looking so hot on Main Street—no matter the crocks the bankers sold us, writes Nomi Prins at AlterNet . Here's some of Wall Street's finest whoppers of the year.
  • The economy has improved.
... More »

Posse Helped Tiger Woods Sneak Around

Small group of friends cautioned golfer, then circled the wagons

(Newser) - The small group of friends who make up Tiger Woods' inner circle warned the golfer his extramarital shenanigans were going to cause trouble, but he ignored them—and they've stuck with him through the explosive revelations that are threatening to sink his career. "We said, 'You've got to be... More »

Banking Panel Snipes at Bernanke, But Backs Him

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... More »

Fed Keeps Rates Low

But central bank sees hope amid slow recovery

(AP) - The Federal Reserve has decided to hold interest rates at a record low and pledged to keep them there for an "extended period" to keep the recovery going and drive down double-digit unemployment. But in a more upbeat assessment, the Fed says the US economy has "continued to... More »

Time Names Ben Bernanke Person of the Year

Beats out Usain Bolt, Nancy Pelosi, and Stanley McChrystal

(Newser) - Time has named Ben Bernanke its “Person of the Year” for 2009, crediting him with saving the world’s financial system and dubbing him “the most powerful nerd on the planet.” This year was all about the economy, explains Michael Grunwald in his voluminous feature, “and... More »

Legendary Economist Paul Samuelson Dead at 94

Nobel laureate write classic intro text for 'dismal science'

(Newser) - Paul A. Samuelson, the first American Nobel laureate in economics and a familiar name to generations of college students, died today at his home outside Boston. He was 94. Ben Bernanke praised his former MIT professor as "a titan of economics," and a colleague said of their fellow... More »

Fed Needs to Create Jobs, Cuz Obama Can't

President's hands are tied by balky GOP, lukewarm liberals

(Newser) - America needs to add a whopping 18 million jobs to its economy over the next five years to get anywhere near full employment, and it's the Federal Reserve that needs to do it, writes Paul Krugman. President Obama's hands are tied by obstructionist Republicans and lukewarm support from his own... More »

Ron Paul Poised to Finally Pass Fed Audits

For first time in nine tries, amendment goes to House floor

(Newser) - For Ron Paul, it's got to be sweet. The financial regulatory reform bill that opened for debate in the House today contains Paul's amendment to subject the Fed to congressional audit—his ninth try in 11 years in office to get a Fed-curbing proposal into play. Until now, none of... More »

'Formidable Headwinds' Hinder Recovery: Bernanke

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,... More »

Far Right, Left Rage Against Bernanke

Unlikely coalition of activists of all stripes target Fed chair

(Newser) - They're mad as hell at Ben Bernanke, and willing to work together—even if they don't agree on anything else—to block the Fed chairman's renomination. Populist anger at Wall Street bailouts and lack of transparency at the Fed has created a surprising coalition of right- and left-wingers that's gaining... More »

'I Did Not Anticipate a Crisis of This Magnitude'

Fed chief takes a beating but seems to have support for new term

(Newser) - Ben Bernanke took some serious lumps today on Capitol Hill, but he still seems to have the support he'll need to get a second term as chief of the Federal Reserve. "I did not anticipate a crisis of this magnitude," he told members of a Senate panel during... More »

Bernanke on Defensive in Confirmation Hearing

Senators full of criticisms for the Fed

(Newser) - Ben Bernanke was forced to play defense in his confirmation hearing today, as the Senate Banking Committee rained down criticism on the Fed and its chairman. Some, like Chris Dodd, signaled approval of Bernanke’s leadership but not of the Fed’s bid for increased regulatory control. “Why should... More »

Sen. Sanders Puts Hold on Bernanke Nomination

Independent's move could force Dems to scrape up 60 votes

(Newser) - Saying that Ben Bernanke is too tied to the roots of the current financial crisis and too beholden the institutions that helped cause it, Sen. Bernie Sanders put a hold on the nomination process for a second term for the Federal Reserve chief. The Vermont independent’s move—not much... More »

Bernanke on Offense Ahead of Confirmation Battle

Fed chair makes his case ahead of Senate hearing; Sanders will vote no

(Newser) - Ben Bernanke's reappointment to a second 4-year term is virtually certain, but the path appears likely to be a somewhat rocky one. The Fed chairman's confirmation will be the subject of a Senate Banking Committee hearing Thursday, and one senator has already said he'll vote no when the matter comes... More »

Congress' New Whipping Boy: The Fed

Bernanke & Co. run into populist ire over Wall St bailouts, unemployment

(Newser) - When Fed Chair Ben Bernanke goes before Congress next month seeking a second term, he'll run straight into cantankerous legislators riding a tide of populist rage over the Wall Street bailout and high unemployment. While the Fed acted decisively to bail out the financial markets last year, it's widely viewed... More »

Dow Up 137; Fed News Sparks Rally

Bernanke predicts US GDP growth in 2010

(Newser) - Stocks rallied today on news of strong third-quarter economic growth in Japan and reassurance from Ben Bernanke that the Fed will keep interest rates low, the Wall Street Journal reports.
  • The Dow rose 136.49 points to close at 10,406,96.
  • The Nasdaq gained 29.97, settling at 2,
... More »

Fed Restricts Overdraft Fees

Customers must opt in for coverage of ATM, debit transactions

(Newser) - Starting in July, banks will have to get consumers' explicit consent before authorizing an overdraft—and the accompanying fee—on debit and ATM card transactions. Since the advent of the financial crisis, overdraft fees have become the biggest source of consumer fee income for banks. Congress is also considering making... More »

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