Steven Sloan

Lending through the Federal Reserve Board's discount window grew 2.6% during the past week, to $108.6 billion on Wednesday.

Nearly a year after Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were seized by the federal government, the fate of the government-sponsored enterprises seems less certain than ever.

Still trying to shore up the mortgage market, participants in the meeting last month of the Federal Reserve Board's policymaking open market committee were divided over whether to buy mortgage-backed securities tied to adjustable-rate mortgages.

Institutions seeking funds from the Term Asset-Backed Securities Loan Facility have a wider range of firms they can work with to facilitate the loans, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York said Tuesday.

WASHINGTON — Banking regulators issued a 36-page proposal last week, and while it never mentioned the words "Basel II," it amounted to a first step toward reworking the tortured capital accord.

Sen. Robert Menendez pressed Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke to focus more of their efforts on problems in the commercial real estate markets.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency's interim rule governing new product and activity approval for the government-sponsored enterprises "espouses rigorous safety and soundness principles without undue constraints," the Mortgage Bankers Association told the regulator.

Defending a shareholder suit has cost Fannie Mae nearly $4 million in 2009; Ben Bernanke a victim of identity theft; FDIC director calls it a career after 33 years at the agency.

As part of the gradual wind down of its emergency lending, the Federal Reserve Board said Friday that its cash auctions would be reduced to $75 billion in September, from $100 billion.

Jeff Lacker, the president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, pointed to the financial services sector Wednesday as a sign that the economic outlook is improving.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency appointed H. Ronald Weissman on Thursday as the chairman of the Federal Home Loan Bank System's Office of Finance.

Lending through the Federal Reserve Board's discount window edged down less than 1% during the past week, to $105.8 billion Wednesday.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency named H. Ronald Weissman on Thursday as the chairman of the Federal Home Loan Banks' Office of Finance.

Though Senate approval to Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke's renomination is almost a given, reaction to the news was swift and often strong. Listed below are selected excerpts from some of those that weighed in.

The Fed chief now faces a Senate that, though likely to approve his nomination, will only do so after putting him through the wringer over his missteps.

Despite a term that has been marred by a severe financial crisis and his controversial response to it, Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke on Tuesday won renomination to another four years at the helm of the central bank.

The Federal Reserve Board is expected to announce the results of its $100 billion cash auction today. Loans made through the sale are to settle on Thursday and mature on Sept. 24.

Denis Hughes, the president of the New York State AFL-CIO, was named chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on Monday.

Denis Hughes, the president of the New York State AFL-CIO, was named chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on Monday.

Oprah's magazine names FDIC chief Sheila Bair the most powerful woman; Barney Frank and protester square off; James Lockhart reflects on private-equity role; and more.