Outside the Box: Easy money won't save Corporate America
Since the onset of the global financial crisis in 2007-08, the administration and the Federal Reserve have implemented policies explicitly designed to spur investment, grow GDP, and reduce unemployment. These actions haven’t worked, writes S.P. Kothari.
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Fed Likely to Stick to Low-Rate Message This Week
WASHINGTON — When the Federal Reserve meets this week, it’s likely to affirm a message it intends to help lift the economy: that consumers and businesses will be able to borrow cheaply well into the future — even after unemployment has dropped sharply. Last month, the Fed signaled for the first time that it will tie its policies to specific economic barometers. It said that as long as the inflation outlook is mild, it could keep short-term rates near zero until unemployment dips below 6.5 percent from the current 7.8 percent. That could take until the end of 2015, the Fed predicted last month. The Fed’s guidance was designed to give consumers, companies and investors a clearer sense of when super-low borrowing costs might start to rise. Though some key sectors of the economy are improving, analysts think the Fed still feels more time is needed for low rates to spur borrowing, spending and economic growth. One reason is that many Americans remain anxious about the budget impasse in ...
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Financial Lobby Group Warns on Emerging Markets
(ZURICH) — A leading lobby group for the world’s financial institutions is warning investors not to get caught short in emerging markets if rich-country central banks end their easy and cheap money policy of the past few years. The Institute of International Finance said Tuesday that the withdrawal of massive stimulus by the U.S. Federal Reserve and other central banks could lead to a “boom-bust cycle” in emerging markets if investors are unprepared. (MORE: The Federal Reserve’s Rule-Making Secrecy) “The risk of market participants being unprepared for a reversal of rates is real and needs to be seriously considered to avoid disruption,” the IIF said. Low interest rates around the world over the past five years have boosted investments into faster-growing emerging countries — where money can earn a better return. The IIF sounded its warning in a report ahead of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where some 2,500 business and political leaders are gathering to ...
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Fed Is Expected to Launch New Bond Buying Program
WASHINGTON — With a nervous eye on the “fiscal cliff,” the Federal Reserve is expected this week to announce a new bond-buying plan to support the U.S. economy. The goal would be to further reduce long-term interest rates and encourage borrowing by companies and individuals. If it succeeds, the Fed might at least soften the blow from tax increases and spending cuts that will kick in in January if Congress can’t reach a budget deal. But the Fed’s actions wouldn’t rescue the economy. Chairman Ben Bernanke warned last month that if the economy fell off a “broad fiscal cliff,” the Fed probably couldn’t offset the shock. Fears of the cliff have led some U.S. companies to delay expanding, investing and hiring. Manufacturing has reached its weakest point since July 2009. Consumers have cut back on spending. Unemployment has dipped in recent months but remains a still-high 7.7 percent. If higher taxes and government spending cuts lasted for much of 2013, most experts say the economy ...
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Federal Reserve Says Economy Showing Moderate Improvement
(WASHINGTON) — The Federal Reserve said Wednesday that the U.S. economy is improving only moderately and still needs its support to help lower unemployment. The Fed took no new action after a two-day policy meeting. It wants time to assess whether the aggressive steps it launched in September will boost economic growth and job creation. In a statement, the central bank said job growth has been slow and the unemployment rate remains elevated. It noted that consumer spending has strengthened slightly and that housing has shown further signs of improvement. But growth in business investment has slowed. (MORE: U.S. Rate on 30-Year Mortgage Hits Record 3.36 Percent) The Fed’s updated view of the economy comes less than two weeks before the U.S. presidential election, after a campaign that has focused on the state of the economy. In its statement, the Fed noted that inflation has recently risen slightly because of higher energy prices. But it said inflation over the long run should remain ...
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