美國聯邦儲備局公開市場委員會(Federal Open Market Committee, FOMC)在美國東岸時間星期二下午兩點十五分(香港時間星期三凌晨兩點十五分)出乎市場意料之外﹐維持聯邦基金利率兩厘不變。
維持利率兩厘不變後﹐華爾街三大指數全面下跌。道瓊斯指數在十分鐘內就下跌了超過一百點。不過在大半個鐘頭後又止跌回升﹐真係好似坐過山車﹗綜觀聯儲局的聲明﹐不減息的唯一原因就係始終害怕美國的通貨膨脹上升。並且認為近期美國政府推出的救市措施已經足夠﹐不願意在現在這個情況下再加重落藥。
究竟聯儲局這招“以不變應萬變”有無效﹐就真係見仁見智﹗不過除了減息之外﹐聯儲局還可以做乜呢﹖
以下是聯儲局聲明全文:
Release Date: September 16, 2008
For immediate release
The Federal Open Market Committee decided today to keep its target for the federal funds rate at 2 percent.
Strains in financial markets have increased significantly and labor markets have weakened further. Economic growth appears to have slowed recently, partly reflecting a softening of household spending. Tight credit conditions, the ongoing housing contraction, and some slowing in export growth are likely to weigh on economic growth over the next few quarters. Over time, the substantial easing of monetary policy, combined with ongoing measures to foster market liquidity, should help to promote moderate economic growth.
Inflation has been high, spurred by the earlier increases in the prices of energy and some other commodities. The Committee expects inflation to moderate later this year and next year, but the inflation outlook remains highly uncertain.
The downside risks to growth and the upside risks to inflation are both of significant concern to the Committee. The Committee will monitor economic and financial developments carefully and will act as needed to promote sustainable economic growth and price stability.
Voting for the FOMC monetary policy action were: Ben S. Bernanke, Chairman; Christine M. Cumming; Elizabeth A. Duke; Richard W. Fisher; Donald L. Kohn; Randall S. Kroszner; Sandra Pianalto; Charles I. Plosser; Gary H. Stern; and Kevin M. Warsh. Ms. Cumming voted as the alternate for Timothy F. Geithner.
2008 Monetary Policy Releases
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