Fed policymakers acknowledged the precarious state of credit markets in making the move.
The discount rate is the interest rate charged to commercial banks and other depository institutions on loans they receive from regional Federal Reserve lending facilities. It differs from the key federal funds rate, which is the rate at which private institutions to other depository institutions overnight.
Cutting the dicount rate, something that financial commentators have been agitating for in recent days, was seen as aimed at narrowing the gap between the discount and fed-funds rates.
The target for federal funds remains 5.25%.
"Financial market conditions have deteriorated, and tighter credit conditions and increased uncertainty have the potential to restrain economic growth," the policy-setting Federal Open Market Committee said in a statement. See text.
Accordingly, the FOMC said it "judges that the downside risks to growth have increased appreciably." Fed officials are "monitoring the situation" and are "prepared to act as needed to mitigate the adverse effects on the economy arising from the disruptions in financial markets," the FOMC said.
Stock futures, which had been broadly lower before the Fed's announcement, turned high almost immediately
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