Category: banks

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The federal funds rate: In the end, is it not about supporting the banking system?

The Federal Open Market Committee is set to meet on December 12-13, 2023 to determine the target range for the federal funds rate. The federal funds rate is the interest rate at which depository institutions lend balances held either at the Federal Reserve or in their bank vaults to other depository institutions overnight. The current … Continue reading The federal funds rate: In the end, is it not about supporting the banking system?

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What is the federal funds rate? Should the Fed worry about not meeting its mandates under law?

Today’s rates …. 30-Day Federal Funds Futures: 94.69. Effective Federal Funds Rate: 5.33%. Interest on Reserve Balances: 5.40%. Discount Window: 5.50%. CME FedWatch: 96.8%. EUR/USD=1.0931. GBP/USD=1.2594. USD/JPY=149.6608. (Foreign exchange rates as of 7:38 pm EDT.) Today’s definition … Federal funds rate-the interest rate at which depository institutions lend reserve balances to other depository institutions overnight. … Continue reading What is the federal funds rate? Should the Fed worry about not meeting its mandates under law?

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One Fed governor and one Fed bank president emphasize caution on rates ….

The takeaway … Loretta Mester, president and chief executive officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland shared with CNBC her view that while the recent consumer price index print for October 2023 was positive, the Federal Reserve System was not going to react to one data release. Inflation in October, as measured by the … Continue reading One Fed governor and one Fed bank president emphasize caution on rates ….

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Crypto: If passed, how long will regulators hold back from chipping away at the Keep Your Coins Act?

The takeaway … Last week, U.S. Senator Ted Budd, Republican of North Carolina, introduced S.3229, the Keep Your Coins Act. The bill prohibits Federal agencies from restricting the use of convertible virtual currency by a person to purchase goods or services for the person’s own use, and for other purposes. Customers are allowed, under the … Continue reading Crypto: If passed, how long will regulators hold back from chipping away at the Keep Your Coins Act?

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Federal Reserve’s true dual mandate: No central bank in its right mind wants to reduce inflation.

The takeaway … I like to take a common man approach to understanding what is happening at the Federal Reserve, at least I try to. We hear all the academic and political explanations for why the Federal Reserve System exists, how it came about, etcetera, etcetera. Last night during the GOP presidential primary debates held … Continue reading Federal Reserve’s true dual mandate: No central bank in its right mind wants to reduce inflation.

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Georgia and the Fed: Is Atlanta putting too much housing supply out there?

The takeaway …. Driving through the streets of Atlanta and new apartment building development appears on the rise. I shudder to think what rents may be for these new developments. I have seen prices for new multi-family developments in the East Atlanta/Inman Park/Reynoldstown area starting at purchase prices in the upper $500K range. Yes, the … Continue reading Georgia and the Fed: Is Atlanta putting too much housing supply out there?

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A reduction in the interchange fee cap may not hurt debit card transactions activity….

The takeaway … Back on 25 October 2023, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System voted to reduce the cap on the interchange fee, a fee received by debit card issuers. 12 CFR 235.2(j) defines the interchange fee as “any fee established, charged, or received by a payment card network and paid by … Continue reading A reduction in the interchange fee cap may not hurt debit card transactions activity….

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No surprises as the Fed keeps rates the same. If there is a pivot, it is coming from the media not the Fed…

The takeaway … I listened to Jerome Powell’s press conference held yesterday after the release of the Federal Open Market Committee’s decision on the federal funds target range. The FOMC decided to maintain the target range at 5.25% to 5.50% by keeping its administered rates, the discount window and the interest on reserve balances, at … Continue reading No surprises as the Fed keeps rates the same. If there is a pivot, it is coming from the media not the Fed…