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The US Federal Reserve intends to start raising interest rates this year having held them at record lows for an extended period of time

US Fed had 'vigorous' debate over rate plans

The US Federal Reserve is pressing ahead with plans to begin raising interest rates later this year despite an apparently vigorous debate over how to communicate its intentions.

Business • 07 Jan 15

The interest rate increase this week failed to halt the drop in the rouble

Putin assures Russian economy will rebound

Russian president Vladimir Putin assured the country’s citizens that the economy would rebound after the rouble's dramatic slide this year but offered no remedy for a deepening financial crisis.

Business • 18 Dec 14

Fed projections suggest US growth of 2.6% and 3% in 2015

US Federal Reserve opens door to rate hike in 2015

The Federal Reserve has offered a strong signal that it was on track to raise interest rates sometime next year, dropping a pledge to keep them near zero for a "considerable time" in a show of confidence in the US economy.

Business • 17 Dec 14

US GDP grew by 3.9% in the third quarter, up from an earlier estimate of 3.5%

US third quarter growth revised higher

US economic growth was far stronger than initially thought in the third quarter, pointing to strengthening fundamentals that should support the economy for the rest of the year.

Business • 25 Nov 14

Members of the Federal Reserve were sensitive to the fact that a global slowdown could hit inflation in the US

US Fed concerned about global slowdown

US Federal Reserve policymakers saw a potential threat to the country’s growth from the global slowdown and a possible decrease in inflation in their last meeting, according to its latest published minutes.

Business • 19 Nov 14

The US Federal Reserve has been reducing the scale of its bond buying programme since September 2013

US Fed expresses confidence in economic recovery

The US Federal Reserve has ended its quantitative easing programme and signalled confidence that the US economic recovery would remain on track despite signs of a slowdown in many parts of the global economy.

Business • 29 Oct 14

The US Fed said it would maintain its current rate for a 'considerable time', which some officials took issue with

Fed officials argued over interest rate guidance

The US Federal Reserve's debate on whether to change its interest rate guidance heated up last month, with several officials saying the central bank risked misleading investors with its current view, according to minutes of its last policy meeting.

Business • 08 Oct 14

Some have called for the US Federal Reserve to prepare for rate rises at a faster pace than markets currently expect

Fed to keep rates low for a 'considerable time'

The US Federal Reserve has renewed a pledge to keep interest rates near zero for a "considerable time" and repeated concerns over slack in the labour market, standing firm against calls to overhaul its policy statement.

Business • 17 Sep 14

Oil traders focus on key two day US Federal Reserve meeting, which starts today

Oil prices steady ahead of key US Fed meeting

World oil prices stabilised today as investors continued to digest weak global data and awaited the start of the US Federal Reserve's latest monetary policy meeting.

Business • 16 Sep 14

Regulators hope the new measure will discourage banks from relying on short-term capital for funding

US Fed plans to raise banks' capital requirements

US regulators plan to raise capital requirements for the largest banks above global standards to ensure they do not place the financial system at risk, a top central banker has said.

Business • 09 Sep 14

The US auto industry has seen particularly strong growth in recent weeks, according to the Federal Reserve

US Beige Book sees 'moderate' economic expansion

The US economy expanded at a "moderate" pace across much of the nation in recent weeks, with the auto industry showing strong growth and banking conditions improving, the Federal Reserve has said.

Business • 03 Sep 14

Some US Federal Reserve members expect the pace of recovery in the country's labour market to continue

US Fed 'surprised' by recovery in job market

The US Federal Reserve has been surprised by how quickly the country’s labour market is healing but does not want to bring forward a planned rate hike until the recovery looks more convincing, according to minutes of its last policy meeting.

Business • 20 Aug 14

Fed Chair Janet Yellen says while the economy continues to improve, the recovery is not yet complete

Fed could hike rate sooner than expected: Yellen

The Federal Reserve could raise its interest rate sooner than expected as the jobs market improves, Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen said, adding the Fed was closely watching for risks.

Business • 15 Jul 14

US Fed chief Janet Yellen says that labour market conditions 'are still far from satisfactory'

US economy to grow solidly after freeze - Yellen

The US economy is on track for "solid growth" in the second quarter after the winter freeze, US Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen has said.

Business • 07 May 14

US consumer confidence resilient to recent reports of weak growth in income and employment

US consumer sentiment holds steady

US consumer sentiment was unchanged as Americans' optimism about their future prospects was tempered by concern over their current finances.

Business • 14 Feb 14

1.6% drop in petrol prices keep US inflation figures flat

US consumer prices flat as petrol prices fall

US consumer prices were flat in November, but a bounce back in the annual inflation rate will probably give the Federal Reserve cover to start dialing back it massive monetary stimulus.

Business • 17 Dec 13

US employers appear to have ended a long cycle of elevated layoffs

US jobless claims falls but data clouded by error

The number of new US jobless claims fell sharply last week but much of the decline appeared due to technical problems in claims processing, clouding the last major reading of labour market health before a US Federal Reserve meeting.

Business • 12 Sep 13

Investors are waiting to see if the US Federal Reserve begins reducing its bond-buying programme later this month

US economy expanded at 'modest' pace in past month

The US economy expanded at a “modest to moderate” pace in most of the country between early July and late August, according to a Federal Reserve report that was just strong enough to reinforce the prospect of a pullback in monetary stimulus.

Business • 04 Sep 13

The New York Federal Reserve Bank which Nafis attempted to bomb in October 2012

Man jailed for attempt to bomb New York Bank

A US judge has sentenced a Bangladeshi man to 30 years in prison for attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction in a plot to blow up the New York Federal Reserve Bank.

News • 09 Aug 13

Oil prices had been hit after the US Federal Reserve said it would reduce its QE programme

Oil prices stage moderate rebound after sharp fall

Oil prices have staged a moderate rebound, a day after their sharpest drop in more than seven months.

Business • 21 Jun 13

Ben Bernanke is expected to step down when his second term as chairman expires at the end of January

Obama hints at Bernanke exit from Federal Reserve

US President Barack Obama has hinted in an interview that he may be looking for a new chief of the US Federal Reserve, saying Ben Bernanke has stayed a lot longer than the current chairman had originally planned.

Business • 18 Jun 13

US unemployment rate rose to 7.6% in May from 7.5% in April

US job figures show economy still in need of help

US employers added 175,000 jobs in May, a sign of steady hiring but below the more robust pace that took place during the autumn and winter months.

Business • 07 Jun 13

The US Federal Reserve cited high unemployment as a concern

US Fed maintains bond-buying programme

The US Federal Reserve has stuck to its plan to buy $85 billion in bonds each month to push down borrowing costs and prop up the economy, citing risks to growth from recent budget tightening in Washington.

Business • 01 May 13

Analysts expect oil supplies to increase

Price of oil up ahead of Fed meeting conclusion

The price of oil was up slightly around midday in the US as the market waits to hear from the Federal Reserve about the future of its stimulus program for the US economy.

Business • 20 Mar 13

Analysts expected the drop to be temporary

US manufacturing sees weak start to the year

US manufacturing got off to a weak start this year as motor vehicle assembly tumbled, but a rebound in factory activity in New York state this month suggested the decline would be temporary.

Business • 15 Feb 13