Bad news is good news for the markets

Jun 4, 2013
Stock markets were up this morning, though data from a variety of sources indicate a only tepid economy. Juli Niemann, analyst with Smith Moore & Company, says it's precisely this bad news that is making the market rally.

What do asteroids and the Federal Reserve have in common?

May 31, 2013
QE2. Quantitative easing or an asteroid?

Is the end of quantitative easing near?

May 24, 2013
Federal Reserve's Ben Bernanke is cautiously optimistic.

As Ben Bernanke speaks, Japan continues stimulus

May 22, 2013
Today Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke gives his latest economic report to Congress. His testimony comes on the same day that Japan's central bank is indicating its intention to continue stimulus measures.

Is the economy ready to fly by itself?

May 20, 2013
What happens if the Federal Reserve takes away the big can of sterno it put under the U.S. economy?

Fed may ease off on stimulus

May 17, 2013
There's talk in high places about the Fed ratcheting back on policies it hoped would add pep to the wheels of commerce.

What unemployment rate should we be aiming for?

May 9, 2013
Is there such a thing as an unemployment rate that is too low?

For public good, not for profit.

European Central Bank cuts interest rate to record low

May 2, 2013
The European Central Bank (ECB) has cut interest rates to a record low of 0.5 percent. But how much stimulus can the ECB really provide?

How low can you go? Fed expected to keep interest rates low, but not lower

May 1, 2013
The Federal Reserve isn't expected to lower rates any more than it already has.

A little alchemy to save the global economy

Apr 10, 2013
In Neil Irwin's new book, "The Alchemists," central bankers conjure magic to bolster their economies after the financial crisis of 2008.