ECB

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ECB Cuts Key Rate to Historic Low

Move was widely expected, but a 2nd rate cut was more surprising

(Newser) - The European Central Bank today cut its key interest rate by a quarter-point to .75%, its lowest level yet, in a move the New York Times describes as the ECB's "most aggressive" since the eurozone crisis hit. Though the move was widely expected, it does bring the benchmark...

ECB Makes Massive $639B Loan to Banks

For a period of three years

(Newser) - The European Central Bank loaned a massive $639 billion to 523 banks for an exceptionally long period of three years to steady a financial system that is under pressure from the euro zone debt crisis. It is the biggest ECB infusion of credit into the banking system in the 13-year...

Central Banks Move to Ease Market Strains

Stock futures surge on the news

(Newser) - Central banks around the world plan to ease the strain on the global financial system by taking coordinated action to prevent a lack of liquidity, they announced in a statement this morning—news that sent stock futures soaring more than 250 points . The Bank of Canada, Bank of England, Bank...

Dow Up 216, Flirts With 8,000
 Dow Up 216, Flirts With 8,000 
MARKETS

Dow Up 216, Flirts With 8,000

Financial sector celebrates relaxation of mark-to-market accounting rules

(Newser) - Stocks rallied today to a strong finish as global action to combat the financial crisis boosted confidence, the Wall Street Journal reports. The European Central Bank cut interest rates, and G20 tripled the lending budget of the International Monetary Fund to $750 billion. After going above 8,000, the Dow...

Europe Cuts Rates Less Than Expected to 1.25%

Economists, markets had hoped for 50-point cut

(Newser) - The European Central Bank cut interest rates today by 25 basis points, less than expected, to 1.25%. Economists had widely expected a cut double that size, reports the Financial Times, and financial markets soared on the news this morning. The ECB has been more hesitant to cut rates than...

Insurer Leads 259-Point Surge
 Insurer Leads 259-Point Surge 
MARKETS

Insurer Leads 259-Point Surge

Stocks manage to stay afloat despite terrible jobs report

(Newser) - Stocks rallied at the end of the session today despite a grim November jobs report that showed unemployment rising to 6.7%, MarketWatch reports. Insurer Hartford Financial led financials higher after announcing that its business were doing better than it had expected. The Dow rose 259.18 to close at...

Markets Mixed in Light Trading
 Markets Mixed in Light Trading 
MARKETS

Markets Mixed in Light Trading

Perked-up GM helps send Dow into holiday weekend on gain

(Newser) - The markets ended mixed today amid flat economic news, MarketWatch reports. With volume light ahead of the holiday, General Motors enjoyed a rebound after a sharp fall yesterday helped push the market into bear territory. The Dow gained 73.03 to close at 11,288.54. The S&P 500...

Europe Hikes Interest Rates to Curb Inflation

Central bank's quarter- point increase to 4.25% is first move in a year

(Newser) - The European Central Bank today adjusted interest rates for the first time in more than a year, reports MarketWatch, raising the main rate by a quarter-point to 4.25%. The increase comes just after a report that inflation in the eurozone has reached 4%, the highest rate since the introduction...

Dollar Rallies at Last
 Dollar Rallies at Last 

Dollar Rallies at Last

Greenback posts biggest advance since March as eurozone sputters

(Newser) - The dollar rose to a three-week high against the euro today and looked set to post its biggest weekly advance since March. The dollar advanced to $1.55 per euro this morning in London, after falling below the $1.60 barrier on Tuesday. The dollar also gained against the yen,...

ECB Pumps Cash Into European Markets

Key interest rates left unchanged in effort to reduce turmoil

(Newser) - The European Central Bank pumped $57.7 billion of emergency cash into the markets today and left their key interest rates unchanged, in an effort to ease the cost of borrowing and calm markets made volatile by the US subprime collapse, Bloomberg reports. The ECB action followed a day in...

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