Skip to main content

Fed slashes interest rates close to zero, boosts assets by $700B to fight coronavirus pandemic

The Federal Reserve on Sunday slashed interest rates by a full percentage point to near zero and said it would buy $700 billion in Treasury securities, an aggressive step to insulate the U.S. economy from the coronavirus pandemic.

“The coronavirus outbreak has harmed communities and disrupted economic activity in many countries, including the United States,” the Federal Open Market Committee said in a statement. “The Federal Reserve is prepared to use its full range of tools to support the flow of credit to households and businesses.”

The benchmark federal fund rate is now at a range of 0 to 0.25 percent, down from a range of 1 to 1.25 percent. The cut essentially brings the nation’s interest rate to zero -- something that President Trump has repeatedly pressed for over the past year.

NEW YORK FED PUMPS LIQUIDITY INTO MARKETS

The historically low interest rates, which not been at this level since the 2008 financial crisis, are expected to remain until the economy recovers from the recent downturn.
"The Committee expects to maintain this target range until it is confident that the economy has weathered recent events and is on track to achieve its maximum employment and price stability goals," the Fed said in its Sunday evening statement.

The Fed also said that it will buy at least $500 billion in Treasury securities and $200 billion in mortgage-backed securities over the coming months, a program known as "quantitative easing."

Earlier this month, Powell announced an emergency 50-basis-point cut to the benchmark federal funds rate, sending it to a range of just 1 percent to 1.25 percent. It marked the first time since the financial crisis that the Fed has reduced its key rate outside of scheduled policy-setting meetings.

“Desperate times call for desperate measures and the Fed is doing just that in an effort to keep credit markets functioning and prevent the type of starving of credit that nearly toppled the global economy into a depression in 2008," Bankrate chief financial analyst Greg McBride said in a statement.

Powell is slated to hold a news conference at 6:30 p.m. ET.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ON FOX BUSINESS

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Unlocking the Future: How Generative AI is Transforming Credit Unions

  Unlocking the Future: How Generative AI is Transforming Credit Unions In the rapidly evolving financial landscape, technology plays an increasingly pivotal role. Among the most exciting advancements is Generative AI, which is poised to transform how credit unions operate and serve their members. Read on to discover how generative AI can reshape the member experience and optimize operations within credit unions. What is Generative AI? Generative AI refers to a class of artificial intelligence that can create new content—such as text, images, and audio—based on existing data. Unlike traditional AI, which focuses on analyzing and recognizing patterns, generative AI synthesizes new information, offering exciting possibilities for financial institutions, particularly credit unions. The Applications of Generative AI in Credit Unions Personalized Financial Advice Credit unions pride themselves on their member relationships, and generative AI can enhance these connections....

Sunday Reading - What is the Declaration of Independence?

What is the Declaration of Independence ? The Declaration of Independence is the founding document that formally announced the American colonies' break from British rule. It laid the philosophical and moral foundation for American democracy, asserting that individuals possess inherent rights and that governments must be accountable to the people ( read summary here ). Although Thomas Jefferson is often remembered as the sole author ( read initial draft ), extensive collaboration shaped the Declaration. Benjamin Franklin and John Adams made small but impactful revisions— including Franklin’s reported suggestion  to change “We hold these truths to be sacred and undeniable” to “self-evident”—before submitting the draft to Congress. On July 4, 1776, the final text was adopted and sent to printer John Dunlap, who produced an estimated 200 broadsides that night—but that wasn’t the actual day of American independence . Congress had voted for independence two days earlier, ...

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 You Need to Prepare Now to Compete for New Fed Gov’t Funded Savings Accounts for Children

WASHINGTON–Credit unions, which often talk about the need for younger members, will now have the opportunity to compete in a new arena for the youngest members of all, as the recently passed reconciliation bill includes language creating and funding for a new savings account for children, with a one-time deposit of $1,000 from the federal government for those born in 2025 through 2028. The new accounts are expected to create a new battleground of competition for credit unions as every provider from banks to fintechs to others seeks to capture the accounts.  The final version of the bill makes the tax-free savings accounts for minors, called Trump accounts, a form of individual retirement account (IRA) under Sec. 408(a), according to the Journal of Accountancy. Under the legislation, the accounts will be IRAs (but not Roth IRAs) for the exclusive benefit of individuals under 18.  About the Contributions “Contributions can only be made in calendar years before the beneficia...

Open Banking To Hit $94B By 2029—But U.S. Lags Amid Global Surge

Watch our Video on Understanding Open Banking NEW YORK—By 2029, open banking is projected to surge globally to a staggering $94.14 billion in value. Yet despite its rapid evolution and expanding global footprint, adoption remains uneven—hindered by inconsistent regulatory frameworks across countries. According to GlobalData, this disparity poses a key challenge for the sector’s success, with the U.S. notably trailing behind global peers in embracing open banking. The U.K. pioneered open banking and continues to be one of the leaders globally. The country has seen the number of users increasing, with there being 12.09 million active users of open banking in 2024 and 223.9 million payments made. This is an increase of 72% compared to the year before. “As open banking continues to flourish, it is positive to see that the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) have outlined how open banking can expand further in the U.K., and also be used in variable...

Live Podcast with Bonnie Sensing, Executive VP of Nashville Firemen's Credit Union on BSA

Jo in us in this live episode as Grant Sheehan, CCUE | CEO of the National Council of Firefighter Credit Unions (NCOFCU), interviews Bonnie Sensing, Executive VP of Nashville Firemen's Credit Union. We break down the BSA complex regulations, explore BSA compliance strategies, and discuss real-world implications for directors and staff. BSA Podcast YouTube NCOFCU Podcasts