Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Fed hikes bank loan rate in surprise move
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Fed hikes bank loan rate in surprise move
AFP - Friday, February 19
Send
IM Story
Print
The US Federal Reserve in Washington, DC. The financial body has said it was increasing the discount rate, the interest rate it charges on emergency loans to banks, to 0.75 percent from 0.5 percent.
WASHINGTON (AFP) - – The US Federal Reserve is raising the interest rate on emergency loans to banks, in a surprise move seen as the start of an exit strategy for radical measures to jolt the economy from recession.
After two consecutive quarters of positive US economic growth, the Federal Reserve Board said Thursday it was hiking the discount rate, or the primary credit rate, to 0.75 percent from 0.5 percent.
Primary credit is provided by the central bank as a backup source of funds to banks.
In a statement, the Fed said its action was part of changes to terms of its so-called discount window lending programs "in light of continued improvement in financial market conditions."
With immediate effect, the maximum maturity period for primary credit loans was also shortened from 90 days to overnight.
The Fed made clear the changes "do not signal any change in the outlook for the economy or for monetary policy."
But the market read it differently.
The dollar shot up across the board against other major currencies after the announcement, made after the stock market closed. The euro slumped to a nine-month low of 1.3535 dollars in late New York trading.
"The most important takeaway is that the Fed is beginning to implement an exit strategy, which is more than what many of the other central banks are doing and therefore this action will be extremely positive for the dollar," said Kathy Lien, director of currency research at Global Forex Trading.
"Although the Fed went out of their way to say that this does not equate to a change in their monetary policy outlook, action speaks louder than words," she said, adding that the move "indicates how hawkish they must be and how serious they are about tightening monetary policy."
Investors saw the action as possibly signaling "the Fed is closer to eventually raising the Fed funds rate," the benchmark interest rate, said Samarjit Shankar, an analyst with The Bank of New York Mellon.
At the last meeting of its policy-making body on January 26-27, the Fed left unchanged its target range for the key federal funds rate -- the rate at which the banks charge each other for overnight loans -- at zero to 0.25 percent.
Raising the discount rate itself "does not mean that the Fed is ready to hike rates or has a set time for such a move but it does mean that the Fed is preparing the way," said Robert Brusca, chief economist at FAO Economics.
"With this move, we should expect a lot more speculation on the part of market participants about when the Fed will be willing to move its actual policy rates for the first time."
The Fed slashed the benchmark rate to virtually zero percent in late 2008 in an unprecedented move to induce growth to the world's largest economy as it reeled from a financial crisis stemming from a home mortgage meltdown.
Other analysts predicted an increase in the benchmark interest rate was still far away.
"A real tightening is still a long way off the distance, in our view, given the continued rapid contraction in credit and the sputtering nature of the recovery outside the manufacturing sector," said Ian Shepherdson, chief US economist at High Frequency Economics.
Ryan Sweet, a senior economist with Moody's Economy.com, agreed.
The hike in the discount rate "does not alter our forecast for the central bank to leave both the interest paid on reserves and the fed funds rate target unchanged until the fourth quarter of 2010," he said.
Bank borrowings from the discount window have totaled less than 20 billion dollars since mid-November and are 87 percent below their previous peak, Sweet said, expecting further increases in the discount rate as the central bank moves to normalize policy.
By hiking the discount rate and not the Fed funds rate, the central bank has in essence widened the spread.
The gap between the discount rate and the fed funds target is typically 100 basis points. It is now 50 basis points.
Recommend
Send
IM Story
Print
News Search
Top Stories
Fed hikes bank loan rate in surprise move
US researchers harness DNA changes to develop cancer test
Two months after summit, UN climate pointman to quit
Be of good heart: Happiness helps ward off cardiac disease
Wal-Mart sees quarterly profits jump amid weak sales
More Top Stories »
ADVERTISEMENT
Most Popular
Most Viewed
Most Recommended
Astronomers find oldest stars outside Milky Way
DNA reveals some mystery on King Tut, raises questions
Scientists recreate Big Bang heat of 4 tln degrees C
Fed hikes bank loan rate in surprise move
Be of good heart: Happiness helps ward off cardiac disease
More Most Viewed »
Third-hand smoke also bad for you: study
DNA reveals some mystery on King Tut, raises questions
Pitt, Jolie sue British paper over split claims
Fury heats up after new AIG bonuses
Sugary soft drinks linked to pancreatic cancer: study
More Most Recommended »
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
Stars and latest movies
Best travel destinations
More on Yahoo! News
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
Also on Yahoo
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
Site Highlights
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Asia Entertainment
Photos
Copyright © 2010 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Service |
Privacy Policy |
Community |
Intellectual Property Rights Policy |
Help
Other News on Friday, 19 February 2010 IAEA 'concerned' Iran working on nuclear weapon
German admits stabbing to death former teacher
Microsoft- deal gets green light from regulators
Wal-Mart sees quarterly profits jump amid weak sales
Dubai sees Mossad behind killing, may seek spymaster
US new jobless claims post surprise jump
Europeans press Israel over Hamas killing row
IAEA fears Iran working now on nuclear warhead
|
Coup attempt under way in Niger: French official
Ke$ha Holds Back "We Are The World" Remake From #1 On The Billboard Hot 100
AT&T plans 3 test labs for high-speed services
No ruling at Google books hearing: judge
Niger president seized in military coup: sources
|
Brussels greenlights Microsoft, Yahoo web deal
Microsoft/Yahoo search partnership cleared by EU
NATO may need 30 days to secure Taliban stronghold
|
Haiti shelter emergency as rain turns camps to mud
|
Russia finds NATO global reach plan disturbing
|
Palestinian leader meets U.S. envoy on peace effort
|
Passions simmer over Moscow plans for Stalin V-Day
|
Google's books plan hailed, reviled
|
Truck hits Thai princess's convoy in Bangladesh
US: NATO controls Marjah's key roads, govt centers
Microsoft steps up search assault on Google
|
Market bomb, US missiles kill 20 in Pakistan
Ashton Kutcher tells Russia of social web power
|
"Freaking" Dance Canceled By School Officials
Small airplane crashes near Austin FBI building
Thai army defends bomb scanners as blast wounds 13
Update: Suspect In Austin Plane Crash Left Angry Suicide Note
Peace monitors to return to Philippines' restive south
Louisiana Man Sentenced To 300 Years In ID Theft Scheme
Former NY Police Commissioner Kerik To Spend 4 Years In Prison
Hormel Foods Posts Strong Q1 Earnings On Revenue, Gross Margin Growth
AT&T plans 3 test labs for high-speed services
|
Virus Steals Log-in Info For E-mail, Social Networks, Online Banking
Wal-Mart Profit Jumps 22 Percent Despite Weak U.S. Sales
Update: Speculation That Pilot Deliberately Crashed Plane Into Austin, Texas Office Building
Obama offers support for Tibet, Dalai Lama
Ke$ha Holds Back "We Are The World" Remake From #1 On The Billboard Hot 100
Holbrooke hails Pakistan-U.S. collaboration on Taliban
Afghan official: NATO airstrike kills 7 police
Florida AG Probes Mail-In Gold Buyer Over Consumer Complaints
UN envoy meets freed Myanmar opposition leader
Japan's ruling party to probe JAL's collapse
EU opens anti-dumping probe into Chinese paper imports
Japan's Isuzu to recall over 4,000 trucks: ministry
Air India gets $173M government cash injection
NBC Olympics ousts Idol from TV ratings throne
|
A Minute With: Leonardo DiCaprio in Shutter Island
|
Springsteen fans must get refunds
|
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
NBC Olympics ousts "Idol" from TV ratings throne
Club Med to open ski village in China
McQueen label will go on says owner
French politicians find halal hamburgers hard to swallow
Movie on Nazi propaganda film booed in Berlin
Britain's JK Rowling hits out at plagiarism claim
'Harry Potter' author hit with plagiarism lawsuit
J.K. Rowling calls Potter plagiarism case "absurd"
UK commander: Afghan offensive could take weeks
Niger president seized in military coup
|
Global cyberattacks hit firms, govts: NetWitness
Medvedev orders crackdown on Russian police corruption
Fed hikes bank loan rate in surprise move
IAEA suspects Syrian nuclear activity at bombed site
North Korea warns of live-fire drills near South
|
Researchers: Clinical Trials Show Smoking Cannabis Might Help Treat Some Pain-Related Conditions
US researchers harness DNA changes to develop cancer test
IAEA fears Iran working now on nuclear warhead
|
No ruling from judge on Google book case
IAEA fears Iran working now on nuclear warhead
Two months after summit, UN climate pointman to quit
Kodak Accuses Blackberry, iPhone Of Patent Infringement; ITC To Investigate
Be of good heart: Happiness helps ward off cardiac disease
Amazon routes Kindle books to BlackBerry smartphones
Attorney Awakened By Uninvited 'Bed Buddy'
US-TECH Summary
Poor Vision Linked To Dementia In Elderly
IAEA suspects Syrian nuclear activity at bombed site
|
Probe traces Google attacks to 2 Chinese schools: report
Dell Q4 Profit Slips Despite 11 Percent Revenue Growth
FCC expands broadband access at schools
U.S. Markets Extend Gains On Manufacturing Data, Shake-Off Weak Jobs Data
Rail Industry Likes Economic Stimulus But Public Support Wanes
"American Idol" To Benefit UN Foundation Fund For Haiti On February 25 On Fox
Haiti shelter emergency as rain turns camps to mud
|
New York City's "Go Green Expo" Kicks Off March 19
James Cameron Sets Earth Day For "Avatar" DVD And Blu-Ray Release
Dell profit dips as revenues climb
Google's books plan hailed, reviled; no ruling
Ashton Kutcher tells Russia of social web power
Australian study uses cat food in war on cane toad
Cambodia acquits reporter of spreading false info
Man angry at IRS crashes plane into building
Top U.S. Pacific Marine says base must be in Okinawa
Small plane is crashed into tax offices in Texas
Proud Aussie Bright ends US domination
Malaysian women: Caning was opportunity to repent
China protests Obama meeting with Dalai Lama
Judge sends two Americans back to jail in Haiti
Microsoft steps up search assault on Google
|
UN envoy presses Myanmar ministers on Suu Kyi
Probe traces Google attacks to 2 Chinese schools: report
|
N.Korea vows not to abandon nuclear arms
Philippines, WWF offer reward for shark killers
FCC expands broadband access at schools
|
China says Obama hurt ties by meeting Dalai Lama
Researchers: Clinical Trials Show Smoking Cannabis Might Help Treat Some Pain-Related Conditions
U.K. Releases Secret Files On UFO Sightings
Attorney Awakened By Uninvited 'Bed Buddy'
"Freaking" Dance Canceled By School Officials
Streep, Bullock provide rare Oscar suspense
Seoul shares end lower on banks, builders
Quentin Tarantino saves L.A. theater
PAKISTAN
Lady Gaga tops Cowell's Idol mentor wish list
|
Toyota head to face US Congress over safety crisis
Pot comics Cheech and Chong roll out new film
Streep, Bullock provide rare Oscar suspense
|
North Korea defector fights her way to the top
NZ credit card billings rise in January
Pot comics Cheech and Chong roll out new film
|
"Shuttler Island" aims to be destination
Toyoda: To speak with 'sincerity' to Congress
Johnny Cash sings one more time, from the Grave
|
Harry Potter author fights plagiarism allegations
Avatar faces tough rivals for tech Oscars
|
Lady Gaga tops Cowell's "Idol" mentor wish list
Seoul shares steady as foreign buying continues
Quentin Tarantino saves L.A. theater
|
LA judge says Chris Brown probation going well
|
LA judge says Chris Brown probation going well
Shuttler Island aims to be destination
|
Cozy layers, wools set tone at NY fashion week
S.Korea front-end T-bond futures hit 1-week low
Five simple rules for winning an Oscar nomination
|
Seoul shares open lower; banks, steel issues fall
Cozy layers, wools set tone at NY fashion week
|
Toyota chief agrees to appear before US Congress
USTR to explore S.Korea auto options in Detroit
Two dead, 35 wounded in Caucasus blasts: official
U.S. strike in Pakistan kills Afghan militant's son
|
Surprise Fed rate hike hurts world stocks
Russia very alarmed at Iranian nuclear stance
|
Nestle posts big drop in annual net profit
NIU Student Shot; Suspect In Custody
Former Governor's Family Renews Push For Clemency
Concern over Afghan civilians slows NATO advance
|
Surprise Cheney Speech Receives Standing Ovation
Banks Urged To Help Americans Save For Future
Abbas considers options on peace talks restart
|
Voice Actress In Controversial Down Syndrome Episode Of "Family Guy" Speaks Up
Sex abuse claims against famed rabbi grip Israel
|
Employers Increasingly Use Social Network Sites To Check Out Applicants
Bombs kill two, injure 33 in Russia's Ingushetia
|
Department Of Homeland Security Officers Lost 243 Guns Over 2 Years
Ice-coffee on sale in debt-stricken Greece
|
Study: Non-Profits Seen As Less Competent Than Profit-Based Organizations
Police Use Snack Trail To Capture Facebook Burglar
Arizona Comedian, Girlfriend Injured In Condo Fire
Lawyer: Prof. accused in slayings likely insane
China says Obama-Dalai talks 'seriously harm' US ties
US pilot in plane attack on Texas tax office
Computer jargon baffles users, hinders security
|
Iraq war to be rebranded 'Operation New Dawn'
U.S. strike in Pakistan kills Afghan militant's son
Turkmenistan to allow creation of a second party
Google's books plan hailed, reviled; no ruling
|
Thaksin protesters shut down Thailand's largest bank
Fed rate move hits Asian shares, boosts dollar
'Rebel' nun to become Australia's first saint
NKorea vows to bolster nuclear force as deterrent
US compensates Afghans for death, damage from war
US Marines airdropped into Taliban-held territory
China protests Obama meeting with Dalai Lama
Pakistani o/n rates, rupee flat; stocks end higher
Fed rate move hits Asian shares
Japan Airlines shares end last trading day at one yen
Pakistan's HBL 2009 net profit at 12.3 bln rupees
FACTBOX-S.Korea c.bank chief remarks on rate policy
FACTBOX-S.Korean c.bank faces government pressure on rates
FACTBOX-South Korean recovery in graphics
British soap turns 25 with live whodunit
"Avatar", "The Hurt Locker", "An Education" lead BAFTA race
Muted luxury reigns supreme at NY Fashion Week
Winterbottom defends graphic violence in new film
|
Berlin critics back Russia, Romania, Polanski films
Avatar, Hurt Locker, An Education lead BAFTA race
|
Italy considers "Avatar" 3D glasses a hygiene risk
Berlin critics back Russia, Romania, Polanski films
|
Academy vetoes Borat as Oscar host
Owen Wilson signs on for new Woody Allen film
|
Owen Wilson signs on for new Woody Allen film
Oscar documentary nominees push for social change
|
"Avatar" faces tough rivals for tech Oscars
Italy considers Avatar 3D glasses a hygiene risk
|
Five simple rules for winning an Oscar nomination
Academy vetoes Borat as Oscar host
|
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights