Fed Runs Risk of Doing Less Than Investors Expect

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Source: The New York Times

WASHINGTON — Investors have concluded that the Federal Reserve will announce new measures to promote economic growth after a meeting of its policy-making committee ends Wednesday. Long-term interest rates have moved as if the Fed had already spoken.

The central bank is often described as facing the choice of whether to do more to improve the economy. But the anticipatory behavior of investors means the Fed really faces a slightly different choice, one it has confronted often in recent years: whether to risk doing less than expected.

The overriding argument for action is the persistent weakness of the American economy, which has left more than 25 million Americans unable to find full-time work.

The Federal Reserve chairman, Ben S. Bernanke, who has made a series of unusual efforts to revive growth, has not discouraged speculation that he is ready to try again.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/19/business/fed-runs-risk-of-doing-less-than-expected.html?pagewanted=all

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1. Yeesh they could land up with 70% of longer term treasuries?

Damn.