Driven by robust data from the housing market and anticipation of Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke's comments tomorrow, markets surged for a second straight day on Tuesday. Housing starts climbed nearly 7% in May to an annualized pace of 914,000, from a rate of 856,000 in April. Show More Summary
Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke sent a shiver through financial markets worldwide late last month when he said that if the Fed saw 'real and sustainable improvement in the labour market' it could 'take a step down' in the volume of its quantitative easing (QE), possibly 'in the next few meetings'. Show More Summary
For the next few days at least, markets will continue to obsess over Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke's every word and intimation, as he and the Federal Open Market Committee discuss the future of the central bank's monetary policy. As forShow More Summary
There seems to be a growing consensus that the recent rise in long-term interest rates is the result of the Fed indicating it may taper its asset purchases. Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke's comments before Congress on May 22 and the subsequent release of FOMC minutes allegedly sparked concerns the Fed was going to tighten policy sooner than expected. Show More Summary
The big story of the week is the Federal Reserve. Everyone wants to know what Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke will indicate about "the taper" – the possible reduction of monthly bond purchases it's expected to make under its quantitative easing...Show More Summary
The key event this week will be the FOMC statement and press conference on Wednesday. No changes in policy are expected, but Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke is expected to reiterate that rates will stay low for a long long time.
There areShow More Summary
Consumer sentiment fell in early-June from a post-recovery high in May as stocks have turned south in the aftermath of Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke's indications that he could taper his asset buying program soon, and as tax hikes continued to make their way through the economy.
At Princeton's commencement, the central bank chief mixed in some humor with his advice. He even quoted comedienne Lily Tomlin. That's not your typical "Fed speak."
By John M. Mason: Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke was back in Princeton this past week, chumming around with his old colleagues. He seems to be on the way out. People say that he will not take a university position when he leaves the Fed… at least not for a while. Show More Summary
Some humor and interesting comments in a commencement speech from Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke : The Ten Suggestions It's nice to be back at Princeton. I find it difficult to believe that it's been almost 11 years since I departed these halls for Washington. Show More Summary
In a recent note to clients, Bank of America Merrill Lynch's Michael Hartnett warned that the risks of a bond market crash were high.
This comes in the wake of the Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke suggesting that the Fed could soon taper its quantitative easing program — the Fed's effort to stimulate the economy by buying bonds to lower interest rates. Show More Summary
By Lou Basenese: "Made you flinch!" Secretly, I think that's what Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke is saying to investors right now. In the wake of his Congressional testimony - when he hinted at changing his quantitative easing ways - investors bailed on stocks. Show More Summary
ByRichard Cox: Dollar bulls have reasons to add to their positions after this week's comments from Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke. Overall, the tone from the Fed's voting members suggest tempered optimism for a recovery in the US economyShow More Summary
It was an uneasy week on Wall Street, as investors and traders tried to decipher when the Federal Reserve would begin slowing down its bond-buying program. In testimony before Congress, Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke hinted that an end to...Show More Summary
U.S. equity markets opened sharply lower again this morning, but this time reacting to yesterday's comments by Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke that the Fed could slow its bond purchases in the next few months. In the U.S., orders for durable goods made a strong showing and propelled stocks off their morning lows. Show More Summary
Douglas Graham/CQ Roll CallRep. Richard Hanna (R-N.Y.) and Rep. Kevin Brady (R-Texas) listen to Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke.
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke testified Wednesday before Congress on the state of the economy, and, to...Show More Summary
ByEmmet Kodesh: The response of the markets Wednesday May 22 to remarks May 21 by James Bullard, President of the St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank and to comments May 22 by Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke showed how frail the much-lauded "recovery"...Show More Summary
Wednesday's prepared testimony by Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke to the Joint Economic Committee of Congress seemed to start out as a bravura effort designed to silence recent chatter about the Fed's so-called 'exit strategy' i.e. the 'tapering' off of its quantitative easing program.
By AlphaVN Research: The monetary policy debate continued on Capitol Hill Wednesday as Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke gave his bi-annual speech to Congress. Bernanke continues to wait for U.S. employment to return to trend, using many of the tools in his arsenal. Show More Summary
Hickey and Walters (Bespoke) submit:
Following yesterday's testimony from Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke, if there was a week where investors may have wanted a weaker than expected jobless claims report, it was probably this one. While claims...Show More Summary