Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Money & Business

New Money by Katy Marquardt

How the Fed Cut Affects the Prime Rate

October 08, 2008 11:46 AM ET | Katy Marquardt | Permanent Link | Print

The Federal Reserve's key rate cut today aims to steady the markets and stem the financial crisis. But it also changes the rate consumers are charged for loans.

For consumers, it's all about the prime lending rate, which is used for everything from car loans to home equity loans. Banks typically take cues from the Fed, which means the prime lending rate often moves in tandem with the fed funds rate.

Case in point: Bank of America, Wachovia, and Wells Fargo all said Wednesday that they're lowering their prime lending rates from 5 to 4.5 percent, which matches the 0.5 percent fed rate cut.

Tags: interest rates | loans | Federal Reserve | Wall Street | Bank of America | banking | Wachovia | Wells Fargo

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Reader Comments

Regulations Needed!!!

The rate cuts may hasten inflation since the markets still have no regulatory changes. This blank check policy of simply dumping money into the economy will never correct anything without new regulatory policies. The G30 are working upon new policies however it takes time and we should NEVER pump more money into anything till we have addressed the root causes of the problem. This is merely an extension of the leadership by shotgun approach where we haven't a plan nor goals, just a checkbook and an ink pen. The world knows America is a loose cannon at present, evident by the volatatile markets and will remain so until we finally have a cohesive plan. Until then, save your Confederate money boys cuz the South's Gonna Rise Again!!!

Price in housing market

I think as a part of regulation some of the things that can be done are:

a) To meet an American dream if the home loan you take is for the primary home, the interest rate should be lower as much it can be. But if some one is trying for investment property that can be bumped up a bit.

b) Regulate the price of the housing market by state/region/locality. These days following the demand supply concept all house prices are hyped and if you look at those homes they are all old and crappy but for paying premium price.

c) This will also help bank to lend less money to the home buyers and also reduce the lending risk. (i.e If the home prices are regulated some one can buy a home for 200K instead of its hyped price of 500K, which means bank will need to lend only less than 200K for the loan)

d)Need to cut down the premium you pay for all these CEO's, RECETNLY WAMU CEO made almost 20Million for just working 17 days in that company. There is no way you can compare that kind of compensation for a common man who is working hard every day to live. What ever he could have done in 17 days, I have a serious doubt if that is work 20M.

Regulate the Housing Market?

What the hell are you Smoking? Gee, will a 2000 sq foot home with an Ocean View be priced the same as a 3000 sq foot home with a Wal-Mart view? Let's see, 2.5 bath, sorry, the regulators say you can't raise your asking price to exceed the price for a 1.5 bath.

OF course, we will reduce un-employment once we add 20,000 new Regulators to monitor house prices. Oh wait, California is already in debt $7,000,000,000 so we can't afford to hire anyone.

You must be drinking some of the Peace and Freedom party Kool-Aid with some of the Pelosi sweetener added.

Suggestions a might make sense -- too a point. Gee -- you want to subsidize the lower rate? Isn't that how we got into this mess in the first place, subsidizing mortgages for people who had NO business getting into a mortgage (and don't give me the "predatory" lenders spiel -- if you aren't smart enough to understand the down side of a mortgage you shounldn't be buying a home.)

Suggestion d -- Clearly there are abuses. But, don't stop with CEO's. There are plenty of other occupations who financially rape us. (Trial Lawyers, Union Presidents, Teachers Union, and Politicians to name a few)

p.s.... I am a small business owner.

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Katy Marquardt, an associate editor at U.S.News & World Report, takes a contemporary look at happenings in the financial world and aims to help young investors get going with their portfolios--or just sound cool at cocktail parties. Have a question? E-mail Katy at newmoney@usnews.com

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