Fed, Treasury open to easing loan constraints
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Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson told Congress on Thursday they are open to letting Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac buy more troubled home loans if the companies control risk and agree to tougher oversight.
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Treasury debt prices firmed on Tuesday  after a key reading of U.S. inflation proved  softer-than-expected, a relief to investors in fixed-income  debt.
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Major American banks and foreign  banks with U.S. branches made it easier for companies to obtain  loans in recent months, a Federal Reserve survey of bank  officers released on Monday showed.
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Lenders will have to confirm that a borrower can afford a mortgage before making a loan under protections proposed by the Federal Reserve on Tuesday, following defaults and losses on U.S. subprime mortgages this year.
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The world's major central banks face the delicate balancing act of trying to ease the global credit crunch sparked by the US subprime home loan crisis while trying to rein in rising inflation.
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The US Federal Reserve increases the amount of money available as it seeks to ease the credit crunch.
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The Federal Reserve announced Wednesday that it was lending $20 billion to banks through the first of four special auctions designed to help alleviate the credit crunch on Wall Street.
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Treasury debt prices eased on Friday  as a startling jump in U.S. retail sales sparked concerns the  Federal Reserve would continue to raise interest rates steadily  into next year.
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Investors appeared to put aside their concerns about tighter credit availability, signs that the economy may be slipping and uncertainty about what the Fedâs next move will be.
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U.S. Treasury prices inched lower on  Tuesday as an auction of inflation-protected debt was met  without too much enthusiasm, although strong interest from  indirect bidders helped dealers cheer up a bit.
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President Bush and Federal Reserve chairman Ben S. Bernanke yesterday took small, but symbolic steps aimed at easing the spreading housing and foreclosure crisis, and calming jittery financial markets.
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The Federal Reserve is set to change home-loan lending practices that are blamed for pushing the nation into a housing downturn, but the effort is expected to fall short of far more stringent efforts by Congress.
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The action by the European bank eases conditions in credit markets that are grappling with a lending squeeze linked to the U.S. housing downturn and traditional year-end demands for cash.
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U.S. Treasury debt prices sagged on  Thursday after minutes from the Federal Reserve's August  meeting suggested the central bank would like to continue  raising interest rates for some time to come.
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The top two U.S. economic policymakers told Congress on Thursday that allowing the biggest home finance companies to buy larger loans could ease mortgage market strains, but should be coupled with tighter regulation of the firms.
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Federal Reserve chairman Ben S. Bernanke is suggesting that policy makers look for ways to encourage a wider range of mortgages geared for low-income and other borrowers who have been hard hit by the housing slump and credit crunch.
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Key economic data from the United States this week may seal the case for the first cut in the federal funds rate in more than four years, which would help ease investor concerns about a fallout from the subprime crisis.