Showing posts with label US Federal Reserve. Show all posts
Showing posts with label US Federal Reserve. Show all posts

Sunday, December 21, 2008

Market Failure and the Big Three

It was much debated on whether the Federal Reserve should bailout the U.S auto industry or not. Many were of the opinion (with a conservative view) that the Big Three could probably survive and be competitive if the U.S government would let them go into Chapter 11 bankruptcy instead of bailing them out with taxpayers’ money.

In a capitalist economy, government intervention is less likely and less welcome unless there is a market failure which has far reaching effects. The fall of the Big Three would have been an imminent danger to the U.S.A's national economy. President Bush's order for an emergency bailout of the U.S auto industry offering $17.4 billion have risen mixed feelings. The autoworkers union complained the deal was too harsh on its members, while Bush's fellow Republicans in Congress said it was simply bad business to bail out yet another big industry.

To my opinion the Fed's decision is perfect as it could not afford to allow the massive auto industry to collapse when the economy is already in the middle of an economic downturn. The Big Three's fall could send the U.S economy into a deeper and longer recession. But, it is also high time for the U.S auto companies to reform bad management practices and begin the long-term restructuring to safeguard the millions of jobs it provides.

Saturday, November 1, 2008

Not Far Away From 10,000

India’s bellwether stock index, the Bombay Stock Exchange’s (BSE) Sensex, soared towards the psychologically important 10,000 mark on Friday, powered by pent-up energy from traders who missed Thursday’s strong rally in Asian markets because Indian markets were closed on account of Bhai Dooj, a Hindu festival.
The Sensex closed at 9,788, adding 8.22% or 743 points, but analysts said the rally will last if only the central bank steps in with aggressive support by cutting rates and releasing money into the system.
After the recent spate of rate cuts by central banks across the globe, led by the US Federal Reserve, many more central banks are expected to announce rate cuts next week. This could see at least some of the funds parked in safe and liquid US treasury bonds coming back to Asian equity markets, according to global analysts. The allocation of such capital will favour those Asian markets where central banks are more focused on growth, these analysts add.