interest rate cut – News Stories About interest rate cut - Page 3

MARKETS

Apr 30, 2008 3:38 PM CDT

Rate-Cut News Sweeps Away Rally

Stocks end down thanks to nervous investors

(Newser) - News of today's Fed interest-rate cut swept away a market rally, and stocks ended down. Language in the Fed statement indicating that further trims were unlikely spooked investors, the Wall Street Journal reports, though that news was expected. The Dow ended down 11.81 to 12,820.13; the Nasdaq...

Fed Trims Rate to 2%

UPDATED

Apr 30, 2008 1:31 PM CDT

Fed Trims Rate to 2%

Markets expect cut to be body's last for some time

(Newser) - As expected, the Federal Reserve cut a key US interest rate today, the Wall Street Journal reports, trimming its overnight rate a quarter-point to 2%. Seven consecutive cuts have the rate down from 5.25% in September as the Fed attempts to keep the economy from stalling under credit woes....

Fed Ponders Pause in Rate Cuts—After 1 More

Apr 24, 2008 10:05 AM CDT

Fed Ponders Pause in Rate Cuts—After 1 More

Experts expect a last cut to 2% before the central bank stops and waits

(Newser) - The Federal Reserve may be ready to cool its torrid rate-cutting after a likely .25% percentage point cut at its meeting next week, the Wall Street Journal reports. Futures markets are betting Chairman Ben Bernanke is unlikely to rest just yet, with little change in the month-to-month economic picture, but...

Bank of England
Cuts Interest Rate

Apr 10, 2008 7:35 AM CDT

Bank of England Cuts Interest Rate

Bank votes quarter-point cut to 5% as downward pressure mounts

(Newser) - The Bank of England today cut its benchmark interest rate 25 basis points to 5%, reports Bloomberg, hoping to keep the nation’s economy out of recession. Despite the third cut since December, BoE’s rate remains the highest among the Group of Seven industrialized nations; policymakers have drawn fire...

Bernanke: Adjustment Is Mostly Over

Apr 2, 2008 10:24 AM CDT

Bernanke: Adjustment Is Mostly Over

But admits economy could contract, possibility of recession

(Newser) - Ben Bernanke for the first time acknowledged the possibility of a US recession, but he also voiced optimism that “much” of the adjustment period was over, the Wall Street Journal reports. His testimony before Congress seemed to suggest an end to aggressive stimulus measures—noting that rates had already...

Could the Credit Crunch Sink a Whole Country?

Mar 26, 2008 9:10 AM CDT

Could the Credit Crunch Sink a Whole Country?

Iceland frets about collapse as interest rates spike to 15%

(Newser) - The global credit crisis has spelled disaster for banks and hedge funds, but now worry is mounting that an entire country could go under. Yesterday the central bank of Iceland was forced to raise its interest rate 1.25 percentage points to 15% at an emergency meeting, reports the Financial ...

Fed Cut Raises Inflation Fears

Mar 19, 2008 10:27 AM CDT

Fed Cut Raises Inflation Fears

Borrowers, exporters stand to gain, but critics find move 'self-defeating'

(Newser) - The Federal Reserve's latest rate cut might boost the economy with cheaper credit, but economists worry a freed inflation genie could be behind any magic, the Washington Post reports. Commodity prices rose to record levels in expectation that the rate cut would keep demand high, and the price hikes are...

Stocks Blast Off; Dow Rises 420

MARKETS

Mar 18, 2008 3:47 PM CDT

Stocks Blast Off; Dow Rises 420

Worries lessen that investment banks are doomed

(Newser) - Stocks blasted off today, with the Dow up more than 400 points after the Fed rate cut and a rally by investment bank stocks. "The run on the investment banks would appear to be over,'' a strategist told Bloomberg. The Dow ended up 420.41 at 12,392....

$Fed Cuts Key Interest Rate ¾ Point$

Fed Cuts
Key Interest
Rate ¾ Point

updated

Mar 18, 2008 1:37 PM CDT

Fed Cuts Key Interest Rate ¾ Point

But Wall Street had hoped for more

(Newser) - The Federal Reserve today cut the federal funds rate by ¾ of a percentage point, from 3% to 2.25%, disappointing many investors who were hoping for a cut of a full point, reports the Wall Street Journal. The Fed voted 8-2 for the rate cut. "Recent information indicates...

Fed 'Will Get on Top of This,' Says Bernanke Mentor

Mar 18, 2008 10:35 AM CDT

Fed 'Will Get on Top of This,' Says Bernanke Mentor

Scope 'far exceeds' that of previous crises

(Newser) - Ben Bernanke has the savvy to inject enough liquidity into the US economy to push it through the current credit crisis, says a leading economist who advised the Fed chief's MIT doctoral thesis. “The Fed will get on top of this,” said Stanley Fischer, ahead of this afternoon's...

Fed Cuts Bank Discount
Rate to Boost Liquidity

Mar 16, 2008 7:21 PM CDT

Fed Cuts Bank Discount Rate to Boost Liquidity

Latest step to stem worsening credit crisis and bolster panicky markets

(Newser) - The Federal Reserve raced to buck up an anxious financial sector today by cutting its discount rate to banks by a quarter point, to 3.25%, the AP reports. It also created a new lending facility to aid investment banks with short-term loans. The moves are "designed to bolster...

Most Economists Say
Recession Is Here

Mar 13, 2008 5:00 PM CDT

Most Economists Say Recession Is Here

WSJ poll sees big shift toward the negative from survey five weeks ago

(Newser) - A cascade of bleak financial news has convinced most economists in a Wall Street Journal poll that the US is already in a recession. The results are markedly more negative than a similar survey only five weeks ago, and much of the foul mood can be traced to last week’...

Gold Hits Record $1K per Ounce

Mar 13, 2008 1:03 PM CDT

Gold Hits Record $1K per Ounce

Slumping US economy, dollar sends investors to shiny commodity

(Newser) - Gold hit $1,000 per ounce for the first time today, the BBC reports, as investors flock to commodities. The precious metal is already up 20% on the year. “Every bit of bad US economic data boosts gold in two ways,” said Fortis Bank, both because gold is...

Despite Fed, Silicon Valley Bullish on Economy

Feb 27, 2008 5:31 PM CST

Despite Fed, Silicon Valley Bullish on Economy

Many tech workers not seeing US slump

(Newser) - Ben Bernanke’s report to Congress on monetary policy offered a grim outlook on the economy, but ABC News sees some signs that good news may be around the corner: workers in Silicon Valley, a national economic bellwether, feel good about their prospects. Rising exports, the recently-passed stimulus package and...

Bernanke Signals New Rate Cuts

Feb 27, 2008 9:15 AM CST

Bernanke Signals New Rate Cuts

Says central bank 'will act as needed' to further minimize economic risks

(Newser) - Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke today said that the board stands ready to cut interest rates again to give the economy "adequate insurance against downside risks," reports the Wall Street Journal. The move, which follows 2.25% in cuts to the key rate since September, is widely expected...

Inflation Spikes, Cut in Jeopardy

Feb 20, 2008 9:04 AM CST

Inflation Spikes, Cut in Jeopardy

Fed may have hands tied, as CPI soars past expectations

(Newser) - Core inflation bounded ahead of expectations in January, which is bad news for anyone betting on a big rate cut from the Fed–and for the Fed itself. The consumer price index rose 0.4%, with core CPI rising 0.3%, putting the year-over-year figures at 4.3% and 2....

Bernanke Suggests Rate Cuts Ahead

Feb 14, 2008 9:20 AM CST

Bernanke Suggests Rate Cuts Ahead

Fed chief sees threats from employment, housing, credit

(Newser) - Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke signaled today that further interest rate cuts might be necessary, citing continuing fallout from the credit and housing market collapses, reports the Wall Street Journal. Bernanke told the Senate Banking Committee he expected "a period of sluggish growth, followed by a somewhat stronger pace...

Fed Battles to Balance Rate Cuts, Inflation

Feb 8, 2008 11:57 AM CST

Fed Battles to Balance Rate Cuts, Inflation

Officials fret over steep drop hampering possible recovery

(Newser) - Inflation worries have some Fed officials hinting that interest-rate cuts may slow down, sparking concerns among investors who expect the central bank to trim rates 75 more basis points at its March 18 meeting, reports the Wall Street Journal. Rates have been reduced 2.25% since September—to 3%--in an...

Rate-Cut Rally Fades Away

MARKETS

Jan 30, 2008 3:40 PM CST

Rate-Cut Rally Fades Away

Stocks soar, then drop on Fed action

(Newser) - The Fed’s half-point rate cut this afternoon briefly sent stocks soaring—before the rally crumbled and the Dow ended down 37.47 points at 12,442.83. Most Streeters have welcomed the series of interest rate slashes, but some are concerned they are too aggressive and could trigger inflation...

Fed Cuts Key Rate by
Half Point

Jan 30, 2008 1:24 PM CST

Fed Cuts Key Rate by Half Point

Officials signal further cuts possible as overnight lending rate hits 3%

(Newser) - The Federal Reserve cut a key interest rate by a half percentage point today, reports the Wall Street Journal, bringing the benchmark overnight lending rate down to 3% even as officials signaled that further cuts were possible. The widely anticipated move follows last week's emergency .75% cut to a rate...