Reserva Federal desce taxa de juro

A Reserva Federal anunciou a descida do nível da fed funds rate para o intervalo 0%-0,25%. O que, na verdade, já era o nível praticado pois na semana passada a fed funds rate efectiva situou-se entre 0,11% e 0,15%. Mais importante foi o facto da Reserva Federal ter anunciado que provavelmente manterá o nível excepcionalmente baixo de taxa de juro por algum tempo e, principalmente, a sua predisposição para "support the functioning of financial markets and stimulate the economy through open market operations and other measures that sustain the size of the Federal Reserve's balance sheet at a high level. As previously announced, over the next few quarters the Federal Reserve will purchase large quantities of agency debt and mortgage-backed securities to provide support to the mortgage and housing markets, and it stands ready to expand its purchases of agency debt and mortgage-backed securities as conditions warrant. The Committee is also evaluating the potential benefits of purchasing longer-term Treasury securities. Early next year, the Federal Reserve will also implement the Term Asset-Backed Securities Loan Facility to facilitate the extension of credit to households and small businesses. The Federal Reserve will continue to consider ways of using its balance sheet to further support credit markets and economic activity.", assinalando que estão dispostos para conduzir uma política de expansão monetária muito agressiva.