Ex-Federal Reserve chief Ben Bernanke is joining hedge fund Citadel April 16, 2015 During his time as chief of the world's most powerful central bank, Ben Bernanke helped steer the United States economy away from financial Armageddon. He threw the country's investment banks a much needed life-line, enacted an enormous direct stimulus package and large-scale monetary stimulus. Fast forward to today and Bernanke has been taking it a little easier [...]
Federal Reserve minutes: Policymakers divided on timing of rate hike April 8, 2015 The Fed finally lost its "patience" last month, a move initially thought to imply short-term rates would rise in June, but then fed chair Janet Yellen tempered expectations by saying this "doesn't mean we are going to be impatient". And now we know why. Minutes released today show a marked divergence among officials on whether they [...]
European markets rise on Fed rate hike caution March 30, 2015 European markets started the day higher, after comments made by US Federal Reserve chief Janet Yellen hinted at "gradual" rate rises, reassuring investors. The FTSE 100 opened 0.6 per cent up, while Germany's Dax jumped 1.23 per cent and France's Cac 40 rose one per cent. Investors have showed caution in recent weeks after a [...]
European markets rise as Fed loses patience March 19, 2015 European markets rose this morning, despite last night's indication from the US Federal Reserve that it could begin to raise interest rates over the coming months. In a statement following a meeting of the Federal Open Markets Committee last night, Fed chief Janet Yellen dropped the word "patience" from the wording of her statement, indicating [...]
Oil prices jump while dollar gets hammered after Fed statement March 18, 2015 Oil prices jumped as much as six per cent higher while the dollar experienced its biggest single-day decline in six years after the Federal Reserve's policy statement on interest rates. The benchmark Brent Crude closed at $55.91 a barrel, up $2.40 or 4.5 per cent when it had earlier fallen as low as $42.03 after [...]
Federal Reserve policy statement: Rate rise could come as soon as June as FOMC drops “patient” March 18, 2015 The Federal Reserve could raise historically low interest rates as soon as June after the central bank revealed it was moving away from a pledge to be “patient”. “An increase in the target range for the federal funds rate remains unlikely at the April,” said the Federal Open Market Committee's meeting statement, but leaving the [...]
Santander and Deutsche fail US Fed stress tests March 11, 2015 TWO EUROPEAN banks have failed the Federal Reserve’s stress tests. The US central bank objected to the capital plans of the US operations of both Deutsche Bank and Santander. The Fed said its objections were made “on qualitative concerns” rather than quantitative. All the large US banks passed the tests, which were introduced in 2009. [...]
Yellen: Fed will drop the word “patient” before it hikes interest rates February 24, 2015 The US Federal Reserve's rate-setting committee will lose patience before it hikes interest rates, promised Fed boss Janet Yellen today – although she remained cagey about when that would happen. In prepared remarks to the Senate Banking Committee, she suggested there is no "given point" at which the Federal Open Markets Committee (FOMC) will decide [...]
Federal Reserve remains wary of interest rate hike February 18, 2015 GOLD, PLATINUM and emerging currencies were buoyed last night after minutes of January’s Federal Reserve meeting revealed the majority of the committee remain wary of hiking rates too soon and hampering growth in the US economy. The minutes revealed the group was less unified on its strategy for when it will eventually raise interest rates [...]
Federal Reserve cautious of raising interest rates against backdrop of economic growth February 18, 2015 The Federal Reserve’s policy committee reaffirmed its cautious approach to raising interest rates after voting in unison against the measure in January. Minutes from the January meeting reveal that the majority of the committee were wary of hiking rates too soon and hampering growth in the US economy. However, the group was less unified [...]