Why Is the Fed Raising Rates? Better to Ask, Why Not?

By BINYAMIN APPELBAUM March 15, 2017 The Federal Reserve on Wednesday is expected to raise its benchmark interest rate for the third time since the financial crisis. The Fed is expected to announce the decision at the conclusion of a two-day meeting of its...

Economic Scene: Fed’s Challenge, After Raising Rates, May Be Existential

March 14, 2017 Eduardo Porter ECONOMIC SCENE Is the Fed at risk for real this time? Throughout American history, few institutions have inspired such persistent mistrust among voters and their elected officials as the mysterious authority that determines the value of...

Economic Trends: The Fed’s Era of Easy Money Is Ending

Economic Trends By NEIL IRWIN March 13, 2017 When the Federal Reserve made its first tentative step toward ending its era of extraordinary monetary intervention, it earned a nickname: the taper tantrum. Global financial markets metaphorically bawled like a...

The Week Ahead: Board to Decide Puerto Rico’s Financial Future; Fed Rate Boost Is on Way

Puerto Rico hopes to restructure more than $110 billion of debt and pension obligations — if it can produce a credible plan. The Fed on Wednesday is likely to give an indication of its future plans.