❗Let's close the gap: We still need your help to raise $40,000 by April 1. Donate now

Federal Reserve meetings gather international attention

Marketplace Staff Jan 24, 2011
HTML EMBED:
COPY

Federal Reserve meetings gather international attention

Marketplace Staff Jan 24, 2011
HTML EMBED:
COPY

TEXT OF INTERVEW

JEREMY HOBSON: Now let’s get the two big events in Washington this week. Obviously President Obama will be delivering the State of the Union address tomorrow night. But also, the Fed begins a two day meeting tomorrow.

And that’s the one Paul Dales will be paying more attention to. He’s an economist at Capital Economics and he joins us from Toronto. Good morning.

PAUL DALES: Good morning.

HOBSON: So what is it that really has you interested in what the Fed’s going to be doing?

DALES: The interest really whether the signs of better economy environment prompt the Fed to alter it’s policy. And buy fewer treasury securities that it has pledge to do, which would therefore remove some support from the economy, but I don;t think that’s going to happen. I think it’s too soon. The economic recovery is looking a bit better, but the Fed really needs to see more for it to withdraw its policy stimulus.

HOBSON: And the policy stimulus you’re talking about the $600 billion plan to buy up government bonds and really throw some more cash into the economy. How much do you think that that matters outside of the United States? Do you think world leaders are going to be watching to see what the Fed does?

DALES: I think there will be, yes. There was quite a bit of an uproar when the Fed started this policy because it seemed to be pushing down the dollar, which therefore pushes up the exchange rate of other nations. So there is some concern there, and further issues about this might prompt some governments to take measures to maybe reduce their own exchange rate, which obviously has implications around the world for every nation.

HOBSON: Alright, Paul Dales, economist at Capital Economics. Thanks so much.

DALES: My pleasure.

There’s a lot happening in the world.  Through it all, Marketplace is here for you. 

You rely on Marketplace to break down the world’s events and tell you how it affects you in a fact-based, approachable way. We rely on your financial support to keep making that possible. 

Your donation today powers the independent journalism that you rely on. For just $5/month, you can help sustain Marketplace so we can keep reporting on the things that matter to you.