Monetary policy

The Fed allowing use of munis as collateral in its MMLF program won't fix all the problems caused by COVID-19 and may add issues.

Federal Reserve Bank of Boston Eric Rosengren offered an upbeat assessment in the face of the darkening economic crisis, saying the U.S. can withstand the short-term damage caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

The U.S. central bank is weighing whether to expand the scope of its interventions in financial markets being battered by concerns over the coronavirus, Philadelphia Federal Reserve Bank President Patrick Harker said.

The Federal Open Market Committee lowered the fed funds rate target to between zero and ¼% in an emergency meeting on Sunday, but while analysts say the move was needed, they feel it will take more to offset the effects of COVID-19.

When the Federal Reserve began expanding its balance sheet with quantitative easing, it was seen as an emergency measure. Yet a decade later, the Fed is again in jeopardy of hitting zero lower bound and its balance sheet remains large.

The markets continue to sink on virus fears, as even a 50 basis point rate cut by the Federal Reserve last week didn’t turn the markets around. The Fed meets again next week and many see more easing, but will those efforts prevent recession?

Marc Odo, client portfolio manager at Swan Global Investments, discusses the Federal Reserve’s emergency rate cut, why more easing may not help, the rocky road ahead, and why consumer confidence will be the key indicator to watch. Gary Siegel hosts.

Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis President James Bullard said markets are wrong to assume that the central bank will cut rates again at the policy meeting in two weeks.

The Federal Open Market Committee cut the fed funds rate target 50 basis points to a range between 1% and 1.25%, it announced Tuesday.

Policymakers may not wait until their mid-month meeting and could act with other central banks.

The Federal Reserve is monitoring the COVID-19 issue and its economic effects, according to a release from the central bank, attributed to Chairman Jerome Powell, released Friday.

Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis President James Bullard said the Fed is ready to act if the COVID-19 virus develops into a destabilizing force.

GOP’s Shelby says he could support Shelton for Fed board

It’s too soon to judge the potential impact of the coronavirus outbreak on the U.S. economy or consider a monetary policy response, Chicago Fed President Charles Evans said.

Former Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen said depending on how widely the coronavirus spreads, the economic impact could have a significant impact on Europe and veer the U.S. toward a recession

Republican Senator Pat Toomey said he’ll support President Donald Trump’s nomination of Judy Shelton for the Federal Reserve Board.

Attention is focused on the impact COVID-19 may have on economic growth in the United States in the short and long term.

It is “still too soon” to say whether the coronavirus outbreak will cause a material change in the U.S. outlook, said Federal Reserve Vice Chairman Richard Clarida, signaling officials won’t be rushed to judgment on the need to cut interest rates.

Three key Republicans on the Senate Banking Committee said Monday that they remain undecided on President Donald Trump’s nomination of Judy Shelton to the Federal Reserve Board.

Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland President Loretta Mester said the worsening coronavirus outbreak represents a threat to the U.S. economy, but not one that yet justifies any change in monetary policy.