Feds keep key interest rate unchanged Updated: Tue, Sep 16, 2008 WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Federal Reserve says strains in financial markets have "increased significantly" but it kept a key interest rate unchanged. The central bank said Tuesday it was keeping its target for the federal funds rate, the interest that banks charge on overnight loans, unchanged at 2... Read More

Bernanke urges more action to stem home foreclosure crisis Updated: Tue, May 6, 2008 WASHINGTON (AP) -- A rising tide of late mortgage payments and home foreclosures poses considerable dangers to the national economy, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke warned anew Monday as he urged Congress to take additional steps to alleviate the problems. "High rates of delinquency and... Read More

Rate rises to highest level in 5 years Updated: Fri, Jun 30, 2006 WASHINGTON - The Federal Reserve on Thursday raised a key interest rate for the 17th consecutive time but signaled that any further rate hikes would depend on economic developments. The central bank boosted the federal funds rate, the interest that banks charge each other, by a quarter-point to 5.25 percent,... Read More

Fed’s softening prompts rally on Wall Street Updated: Fri, Jun 30, 2006 The Federal Reserve’s softening posture on continued rate hikes prompted a “relief rally” Thursday on Wall Street even as the Fed bumped its benchmark rate higher for the 17th consecutive time, an Oklahoma investment expert said. “They’re about wearing us out with these rate hikes,” said Jim... Read More

Fuel prices spark inflation jump Closely watched indicator tops pace of 11 years Updated: Thu, Jun 15, 2006 WASHINGTON - Surging gasoline prices helped trigger another big increase in consumer inflation in May, and one closely watched price gauge rose at the fastest pace in 11 years. The Labor Department reported Wednesday that its Consumer Price Index rose 0.4 percent last month, in line with expectations, while core... Read More

Wall Street bell signals worst week Updated: Sat, Jun 10, 2006 NEW YORK - Wall Street finished its worst week of the year with a moderate decline Friday as persistent unease over inflation and interest rates kept investors nervous about buying. Stocks had appeared to steady themselves in morning trading Friday following several days of heavy losses. But a jump in import... Read More

Economic fears reach deaf ears Updated: Sun, Mar 18, 2001 If Americans made a desperate plea for help, would Washington respond? It looks as if the answer is "no." Americans, indeed, cried out desperately last week when they hammered the price of stocks to frightening lows. The nation's shareholders -- and that's most Americans, since most of us own 401(k)s, IRAs or... Read More

Greenspan and the Fed chomp at bits Updated: Sat, Mar 17, 2001 Two bits, four bits, six bits, a dollar -- all for a cut in interest rates, stand up and holler. Youngsters, ask your grandparents to explain that a "bit" is 121/2 cents, hence, two bits is a quarter, four bits a half-dollar and six bits three quarters. The Federal Reserve Board meets Tuesday. It will be big news... Read More

Greenspan lends Fed strength Updated: Sat, Oct 28, 2000 In the forest of easily swayed, weak-trunked political appointees, Alan Greenspan is an oak. Bob Mitchell actually had an audience with the Federal Reserve chairman earlier this year, after the fifth, but before the sixth, interest rate hike since mid-1999. Mitchell, a home builder from Rockville, Md., is... Read More

Is Fed creating inflation? Updated: Sun, May 21, 2000 An intriguing passage last week appeared toward the bottom of an article in Tuesday's Business section. In an idle moment, it got me wondering whether the Federal Reserve, by boosting interest rates, is tamping down inflation or creating some inflation. In the beginning of the article by Mike Strain, a funeral-home... Read More

Region sees housing starts drop Updated: Wed, May 10, 2000 Oklahoma City isn't the only place seeing a big decline in home construction. Single-family building permits issued in the first third of the year are off in Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth and other cities where robust growth was seen last year and the year before, said Robert L. Siegel. Siegel is a New Orleans-based... Read More