If rumors were dollars, we’d be the most liquid team on Wall Street today. The latest rumor we’ve heard, from a credible source at a large investment bank, is that the Federal Reserve may make an emergency rate cut before the weekend. He admits that this is only a credit trading desk talk for now and if anything he himself is a source unfamiliar with the thinking at the Federal Reserve.
The argument for an emergency rate cut begins with the spike of the dollar, which many believe may be a sign that banks and financial firms are scooping up dollars to make up for lost capital cushion due to events such as the Fannie and Freddie bailout. As this rapid movement in currency places further stress on the global financial system it also creates space for a further Fed easing. The Fed may feel that an emergency cut could ease pressure on the stocks of several financial firms and banks that have come under fire today.
As we said, this is still just something that people are talking about at banks and we haven’t had any indication from anyone close to the Fed on this. But be assured that it was talked about on credit markets calls this morning.

Comments (20)

  1. Posted by Tapecracker | September 11, 2008 at 12:57 PM

    Is it me?

  2. Posted by bank_teller | September 11, 2008 at 1:01 PM

    That would be an asinine move by the Fed and would solve nothing. So maybe they will do it.

  3. Posted by guest | September 11, 2008 at 1:02 PM

    If you listen closely, you can hear the printing presses.

  4. Posted by diablo | September 11, 2008 at 1:03 PM

    Carney, this is not a new rumor… The rumored timing of the cut might be new.
    If it happens the stock market will dive further (IMO). The rate cut gimmick has ran its course.

  5. Posted by guest | September 11, 2008 at 1:06 PM

    A cut will do absolutely nothing except send the dollar back into the toilet.
    We already have enough Euro’s in NYC over for cheap shopping. My brain can’t handle anymore socks and sandals

  6. Posted by guest | September 11, 2008 at 1:07 PM

    what number am I?

  7. Posted by guest | September 11, 2008 at 1:07 PM

    High probability the FED will default on all treasuries.

  8. Posted by guest | September 11, 2008 at 1:08 PM

    Nah, don’t believe in default

  9. Posted by FUNdamental | September 11, 2008 at 1:09 PM

    needs more lehman

  10. Posted by guest | September 11, 2008 at 1:12 PM

    what mayo am I?

  11. Posted by guest | September 11, 2008 at 1:15 PM

    Pizza needs to merge with Imodium AD in order to survive in my stomach.

  12. Posted by guest | September 11, 2008 at 1:16 PM

    the dollar falls on news that Europe is weakening. gee, I guess we aren’t. the dollar belongs in the toilet, along with the gov’s statistical manipulation. Positive GDP figures my ass.

  13. Posted by guest | September 11, 2008 at 1:18 PM

    the only liquidity you’ll have is 80-90 proof. now yer just making s”$% up!

  14. Posted by guest | September 11, 2008 at 1:19 PM

    tell me something – how has bennie’s rate cuts spate “helped” the market recover?
    -precisely
    so yes, i agree with #4 and #5

  15. Posted by Anal_yst | September 11, 2008 at 1:22 PM

    @ 11
    As I choke down a cajun chicken (i think?) sandwich – which almost ended up splattered all over my monitor as I read your comment – I couldn’t, obviously, help but agree

  16. Posted by guest | September 11, 2008 at 1:24 PM

    That will just prolong the problem. Honestly, how is wall street this stupid. You can beat the market because the market is dumb. Read Seth Klarman’s book. You can’t ignore Risk.

  17. Posted by chad | September 11, 2008 at 1:29 PM

    @14, are you insinuating that we’d be in the same bucket we are now -or better- if rates had never been cut the past year or so? id imagine Bear, Lehman and a dozen other banks would have been underground a lot sooner otherwise.

  18. Posted by guest | September 11, 2008 at 1:41 PM

    If rapid asset inflation and loose monetary policy were the road to prosperity, Argentina would be the richest country in the world right now!!

  19. Posted by guest | September 11, 2008 at 2:19 PM

    I heard this today also. Seems unlikely, but with the dollar near recent highs, there may be less harm in doing so.

  20. Posted by guest | September 11, 2008 at 3:02 PM

    How on earth is an extra 25 or 50 basis points going to help anything?
    I’m guessing it isn’t.

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