Posts Tagged ‘Ben Bernanke’
Wednesday, September 21st, 2011
I am not sure what to make of the letter sent to Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke from the four Republican Congressional leaders expressing their concern over any additional stimulus from the Fed.
Some Democrats have already expressed outrage that the GOP leadership is trying to strong arm the Fed and challenge its independence. Many believe the GOP is simply trying to prevent anything that can help improve the economy before next year’s election. Others may simply believe it is high time that this unelected powerful body is reined in.
(more…)
Tags: Ben Bernanke, Federal Reserve
Posted in Federal Reserve | 2 Comments »
Monday, August 29th, 2011
One of the annoying things about recent public discourse is that it is not so much the public policy impact that determines whether a subject is newsworthy but whether a snappy new title could be placed on it and then discussed with great seriousness by cable TV arbiters.
Hence, instead of the usual prattle about whether a president should be seen vacationing during tough economic times or when major events occur, a new word is created — optics — and we discuss whether his judgment is skewed because he should know how it looks or more accurately how the other side would try and exploit it. (more…)
Tags: Ben Bernanke
Posted in General | No Comments »
Wednesday, August 10th, 2011
The Federal Reserve’s Federal Open Markets Committee (FOMC) shook up the markets with its statement on Tuesday that it would likely keep rates exceptionally low through mid-2013. This prompted three dissenting votes, which may have had more to do with the volatile reaction than the actual announcement. However, the announcement is pretty remarkable.
The Fed is telling us that it will maintain a zero interest rate policy—the same emergency policy that has been with us since December 2008 — for nearly two more years. (more…)
Tags: Ben Bernanke, Fed funds, Federal Reserve
Posted in Credit crisis, Federal Reserve, economy | 1 Comment »
Thursday, June 23rd, 2011
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke was subjected to journalists questions for the second time yesterday when he hosted the second post-FOMC press conference. As was expected going into the meeting, the Fed made no change to the Federal Funds rate or their plans to alter the second round of quantitative easing. This came as no surprise given the recent bout of bad economic numbers in nearly every sector.
(more…)
Tags: Ben Bernanke, Economic outlook, economy, Fed, Federal Reserve
Posted in economy | No Comments »
Friday, June 3rd, 2011
Just as we began to have serious discussions regarding a Fed exit strategy, the economy gets hit with a series of very poor economic reports and we are hearing chatter about a double dip recession.
Today’s employment situation report showed growth in nonfarm payrolls of 54,000, about 120,000 fewer than were expected and that expectation was dropped this week due to other weak economic news. Namely Wednesday’s Institute For Supply Management’s (ISM) manufacturing index.
(more…)
Tags: Ben Bernanke, Economic outlook, Federal Reserve
Posted in Markets, Uncategorized, economy | 2 Comments »
Friday, April 29th, 2011
In pointing out the ongoing difficult with the economy, Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke stressed high unemployment and foreclosure rates. The foreclosure rate comment is particularly disturbing in that the Fed had made a point with its various emergency liquidity actions during the crisis that returning a flow of credit to American families and businesses was a priority.
While the Fed made sure the banks got theirs, there has been no sign of diligence from the Fed on the rest. Why didn’t someone ask Ben specifically what have you done to “restore the flow of credit to American families and businesses” or more specifically, why didn’t you make the largesse you offered the banking sector conditioned on restoring that flow of credit.
(more…)
Tags: bailout, Ben Bernanke, Congress, Treasury, U.S. dollar
Posted in Federal Reserve, Housing, economy | No Comments »
Friday, April 29th, 2011
There seems to be some debate over whether Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke closed the door on additional quantitative easing or not during the Federal Reserve’s first ever press conference this week. The statement put out by the Fed prior to the press conference simply indicated that QE2 would be completed on schedule in June but added, “The Committee will regularly review the size and composition of its securities holdings in light of incoming information and is prepared to adjust those holdings as needed to best foster maximum employment and price stability.”
(more…)
Tags: Ben Bernanke, Federal Reserve
Posted in Inflation, economy | No Comments »
Tuesday, April 26th, 2011
On a day that saw the Dow Jones Industrial Average reach its highest close since June 5 (nearly three years/see chart) and yet the sector which is most responsible for the Great Recession—housing—continues to exhibit weakness, all the talk is on tomorrow’s first ever Fed Chairman press conference following the Federal Open Market’s Committee (FOMC) meeting.
(more…)
Tags: Ben Bernanke, Economic outlook, Federal Reserve, FOMC
Posted in Inflation, economy | No Comments »
Tuesday, February 15th, 2011
The Financial Times reported on Tuesday that Pimco significantly cut its exposure to U.S. Treasuries in its Total Return Fund, the world’s largest bond fund. According to the story Pimco cut the funds exposure to 12% in January from 22% in December and 33% on Sept. 30.
Not sure what the significance is other than to confirm that Bill Gross is a good trader as Treasuries have dropped precipitously since August.
(more…)
Tags: Ben Bernanke, Federal Reserve
Posted in Markets | No Comments »
Wednesday, January 26th, 2011
Yesterday I received the following update from one of my contributors:
“One needs to call what is going on with agricultural commodities for what it is: A PANIC. Fears of food shortages are everywhere that has created a hoarding mentality and an escalation of what seems to be never ending rising prices.” (more…)
Tags: bailout, Ben Bernanke
Posted in economy | No Comments »
