Fed Again Pushes Up InterestRates

WASHINGTON - (12/14/05) As many had expected, The FederalReserve boosted the federal funds rate by 25 basis points to 4.25%,its highest point since March of 2001. It marked the 13thconsecutive meeting at which the Fed has pushed rates up. Someanalysts, in reviewing policy statements released by the Fed,believe the Fed may be near the end of its plans to increase rates,but others are predicting several more increases may be in store.The meeting was the second-to-the-last for Fed Chairman AlanGreenspan, who will be succeeded at the end of January, 2006, byBen Bernanke.