Ben Bernanke

Despite the emerging markets sell-off, the US Federal Reserve decided to cut its monthly asset purchase program by another $10 billion in February, bringing the total monthly spend down to $65 billion per month. The decision was backed by improving economic data which the bank believes will be...

U.S. stocks were unable to keep yesterday's momentum and ended the day sharply lower. The Dow suffered yet another triple digit decline with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq indices shedding more than one percent. In Ben Bernanke's final meeting as Fed chief, the FOMC tapered its monthly bond...

Current Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke is likely to finish his term at the helm of the US central bank by cutting the bank's monthly asset purchases by another $10 billion. US economic data has pointed to a strengthening recovery, which will probably push Fed officials to reduce monthly...

It is yet unclear as to whether or not the current mess in the emerging markets will morph into a full-fledged crisis (remember the fun of 1998?). However, it is safe to say the focal point of the stock market remains the currencies, economies, and equity markets of places like China, Argentina...

The questions raised by last week's stock market sell-off are simple: How long and how deep? The short answers are: The sell-off may get deeper, but it won't last forever. Stocks opened higher on Monday, creating hope of a short end to the selling. But the early gains were gone by noon. Maybe...

On Monday, COMEX gold futures traded to the highest price levels since November 18 before retreating sharply. After ending 2013 with a yearly loss of almost 30 percent, gold prices increased in January amid reports of rising demand for gold bars and jewelry in Asia. However, speculation that...

The People's Bank of China worked to reduce rates by injecting large amounts of cash into markets on Monday and Tuesday. The bank surprised investors on Monday with an unexpected shot of yuans and followed up Tuesday with the addition of 255 billion yuan, the largest amount of money the bank...

The U.S. dollar fell to its lowest levels since December 18 against the Japanese yen after the U.S. employment report raised investor concerns over the health of the U.S. economy. On Friday, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a gain of 74K nonfarm jobs, the smallest increase in three...

After much anticipation and heavily speculation the Federal Reserve announced a $10 billion per month taper. Treasury purchases will be cut to $40 billion per month with MBS purchases cut to $35 billion per month. The Fed's move shouldn't come as a surprise as recent economic data and...

The day has finally arrived, the Fed has begun its taper. The Fed announced it will continue to make monthly asset purchases, but at a $75 billion per month pace versus the previous $85 billion per month. In the end, the $10 billion taper per month is a drop in the bucket and that is why the...

On Wednesday, data released by Japan's Ministry of Finance showed that the nation posted a November trade deficit of 1.29 trillion yen ($12.56 billion). The yen weakened for the first time in four days against the U.S. dollar on the news, edging closer to the 5 year low reached last Friday....

On Monday, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke spoke at a ceremony marking the central bank's 100 year anniversary. The Federal Reserve System was established on December 23, 1913, when President Woodrow Wilson signed the Federal Reserve Act into law. On Wednesday, the Fed will be back in...

On Tuesday and Wednesday, the Federal Reserve will meet for the last time in 2013. The final policy meeting of the year will provide further clarity on the hotly debated question of when, or if, the Fed will begin to scale back on its $85 billion-a-month bond buying program. In June, the Fed'...

As we close out the final month of the year, Federal Reserve statements,  window dressing, tax selling and volatile commodities will boost cause uncertainty in the markets. The Federal Reserve transition and decline in precious metals make this December especially hot. GFI Group (NYSE: GFIG...

Comments from the Federal Reserve's current chief Ben Bernanke cemented investor expectations that the US central bank would hold off on tapering in December. Bernanke, who surprised markets back in September when he opted not to begin the taper, said the bank was planning to continue with its...