August 07, 10, 2007
Statement·Presser·Minutes
BBBen S. BernankeAugust 10, 2007 FOMC Statement
FOMC statement
FOMC statement: The Federal Reserve is providing liquidity to facilitate the orderly functioning of financial markets
FOMC statement
For immediate release
The Federal Reserve is providing liquidity to facilitate the orderly functioning of financial markets.
The Federal Reserve will provide reserves as necessary through open market operations to promote trading in the federal funds market at rates close to the Federal Open Market Committee's target rate of 5-1/4 percent. In current circumstances, depository institutions may experience unusual funding needs because of dislocations in money and credit markets. As always, the discount window is available as a source of funding.
The Federal Open Market Committee decided today to keep its target for the federal funds rate at 5-1/4 percent.
Economic growth was moderate during the first half of the year. Financial markets have been volatile in recent weeks, credit conditions have become tighter for some households and businesses, and the housing correction is ongoing. Nevertheless, the economy seems likely to continue to expand at a moderate pace over coming quarters, supported by solid growth in employment and incomes and a robust global economy.
Readings on core inflation have improved modestly in recent months. However, a sustained moderation in inflation pressures has yet to be convincingly demonstrated. Moreover, the high level of resource utilization has the potential to sustain those pressures.
Although the downside risks to growth have increased somewhat, the Committee's predominant policy concern remains the risk that inflation will fail to moderate as expected. Future policy adjustments will depend on the outlook for both inflation and economic growth, as implied by incoming information.
Voting for the FOMC monetary policy action were: Ben S. Bernanke, Chairman; Timothy F. Geithner, Vice Chairman; Thomas M. Hoenig; Donald L. Kohn; Randall S. Kroszner; Frederic S. Mishkin; Michael H. Moskow; William Poole; Eric Rosengren; and Kevin M. Warsh.
Our summary
What changed
- The statement no longer announces a federal funds rate decision; instead, it focuses on providing liquidity to support orderly financial markets.
- It explicitly states the Fed will supply reserves through open market operations to keep trading near the 5-1/4 percent target rate.
- It notes depository institutions may face unusual funding needs due to money and credit market dislocations, and reminds that the discount window is available.
- All prior language on economic growth, inflation, risks, and the policy outlook has been removed, leaving only the liquidity provision message.
Implications
The shift from a standard policy statement to a liquidity-focused one signals an emergency response to market stress, suggesting the FOMC prioritizes stabilizing funding conditions over signaling its usual economic outlook.
Markets may interpret this as a precautionary measure to prevent credit market disruptions from escalating, with the target rate unchanged but the operational stance more accommodative in the short term.
Summary generated automatically from the statements. Not investment advice.