This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-25436982

The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
US Federal Reserve pulls back on stimulus effort US Federal Reserve pulls back on stimulus effort
(35 minutes later)
The US Federal Reserve has announced a slowdown in its effort to boost the US economy.The US Federal Reserve has announced a slowdown in its effort to boost the US economy.
The central bank said it planned to scale back its $85bn (£51.8bn) a month bond buying programme by $10bn a month.The central bank said it planned to scale back its $85bn (£51.8bn) a month bond buying programme by $10bn a month.
Stimulus of this kind is designed to lower interest rates and boost economic activityStimulus of this kind is designed to lower interest rates and boost economic activity
The Fed's governing committee cited stronger job growth as a reason for the decision to pullback its programme of bond buying.The Fed's governing committee cited stronger job growth as a reason for the decision to pullback its programme of bond buying.
The announcement followed a two-day meeting in Washington, DC.The announcement followed a two-day meeting in Washington, DC.
The Fed's decision to begin to ease its extraordinary stimulus efforts also indicates that the central bank believes that the US economy has finally strengthened enough that it no longer needs as much support.The Fed's decision to begin to ease its extraordinary stimulus efforts also indicates that the central bank believes that the US economy has finally strengthened enough that it no longer needs as much support.
US markets cheered the news, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average spiking more than 160 points, or over 1%, in the minutes after the announcement.
In its forecast for the coming years, the Fed said the employment situation will improve faster than previously expected.In its forecast for the coming years, the Fed said the employment situation will improve faster than previously expected.
It said the unemployment rate will fall to 6.3% in 2014 from its current level of 7%.It said the unemployment rate will fall to 6.3% in 2014 from its current level of 7%.
'Symbolic'
US markets cheered the news, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average spiking more than 160 points, or over 1%, in the minutes after the announcement.
That is partially because, while significant, the amount of the pullback in bond-buying was slightly less than expected.
"Ultimately this a very small amount - it's symbolic rather than more substantive," Steve Wood, chief market strategist at Russell Investments, told the BBC.
"The takeaway from this is that while the Federal Reserve might be reducing the dosage of the antibiotic, they're not going to be discharging the patient anytime soon."