Economics
Fed Takes on Role of World’s Central Bank by Pumping Out Dollars
- Unveils new repurchase facility for foreign central banks
- Dollar squeeze threatens world economy reeling from virus
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The Federal Reserve is acting as central banker to the world by seeking to provide the global financial system with the dollar liquidity it needs to avoid seizing up.
In its latest measure to combat the economic fallout from the coronarvirus pandemic, the Fed said Tuesday it was establishing a temporary repurchase agreement facility to allow foreign central banks to swap any Treasury securities they hold for cash. That’s yet another step beyond the actions it took in the 2008 financial crisis.