The US Federal Reserve cut the short-term inter-bank lending rate by aquarter of a point this evening, the sixth interest rate reduction in as manymonths aimed at stimulating the slowing US economy.
The move was announced at 2.15 p.m(7.15 p.m. Irish time)at the end of a twoday meeting ofthe Fed's chief policymaking group, the Federal Open MarketCommittee chaired by Fed chief Mr Alan Greenspan.
The quarter point reduction represents an easing of the Fed's aggressiverate-cutting programme since January which has brought inter-bank lendingrates down from 6.5 per cent to 3.75 per cent. The five previous cuts were ofof half a point each.
The Fed made its decision against a background of reports hinting that theUS economy might be stabilising. Among these was a rise in the consumerconfidence index to its highest level this year and an increase in new homesales in May of 0.8 per cent, the third in four months. Durable goods ordersalso rose 2.9 per cent in May, recovering from a 5.5 per cent slump in April.
Analysts are divided on whether this will be the last rate cut in thecurrent series. Ms Lynn Reaser, chief economist at Bank of America CapitalManagement, said: "The economy should in fact start to show signs ofstabilising during the next two months as the interest rate cuts and tax cutstake hold."
But economist Mr Clifford Waldman of Waldman Associates, citing economicturmoil overseas, said, "problems remain, I don't think it will be the lastone."
The Fed cut means a further easing in interest charged by US commercialbanks, which have lowered their prime lending rate, the benchmark formillions of consumer and business loans, from 9.5 per cent down to aseven-year low of 7 per cent, since the first Fed rate cut in January.