Liquidity

Advances from the Federal Home Loan Banks dipped in the third quarter, but experts do not necessarily see the dip as a sign of ample liquidity in the economy.

A directive from the Federal Housing Finance Agency would cut the number of board seats for Federal Home Loan Banks, especially in dark blue areas of the electoral map.

Federal Reserve Gov. Christopher Waller said that criticisms of the Fed's balance sheet and calls to return to a scarce reserves system are misinformed, saying that much of the central bank's balance sheet is the result of activities outside the Fed's control.

A bill being introduced by Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., would compel the Federal Home Loan Bank System to contribute 30%, or a minimum of $200 million, of each bank's net earnings into affordable housing or other community development programs.

In a paper, former central bank researchers make the case that the Federal Reserve could better support the Treasury market from disruptions in the cash-futures basis trade by hedging its asset purchases.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency issued a proposed rule for the Federal Home Loan Bank System that allows the FHFA director to set "reasonable" board compensation.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency has proposed a change to capital rules on interest-bearing deposit accounts that would increase the Federal Home Loan Banks' flexibility to manage liquidity during times of stress.

Federal Reserve Vice Chair for Supervision Michael Barr conceded major points to the industry on last year's capital reform proposal. But how regulators will approach other reforms in light of that experience is uncertain.

Home Loan bank executives said Congress would have to pass a law for the system to increase its affordable housing contribution above 10% of earnings.

The Federal Reserve governor was one of two to vote against issuing the so-called Basel III endgame proposal. He says work is being done to address issues with the operational risk framework, but that regulators may need to go back to the drawing board for an adequate fix.

The president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas and former manager of the central bank's open market account said a slower approach to balance sheet reduction may be warranted sooner rather than later.

Federal Reserve officials point to overnight reverse repurchase agreement activity as an indication of excess liquidity, which the central bank is working to reduce. But some analysts say that excess liquidity may be drying up faster than expected, with important implications for banks.

The lobbyist for the Home Loan Bank System has asked the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. to confirm that the private consortium can continue to be a "lender of last resort," in direct conflict with the recommendations of its regulator, the Federal Housing Finance Agency.

In her first remarks since the release of a sweeping report on the banks, Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Sandra Thompson urges them to strengthen underwriting and communication with their members' regulators.

Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Sandra Thompson is pushing for a quick launch of pilot programs at the 11 Federal Home Loan banks to help underserved communities after its report this week prescribed major reforms to the system.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency says it wants to more closely tether Federal Home Loan bank advances to housing and community development. Doing so will first involve clearly defining the banks' mission through regulation.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency said in a long-awaited report that it will set up new guardrails for the Federal Home Loan Banks to ensure that the institutions are serving a housing-centric mission.

Demand-driven inflation will continue to be a problem in the U.S. economy until we somehow work through trillions of excess liquidity provided by the Federal Open Market Committee, writes the Chairman of Whalen Global Advisors.

The use of the Federal Reserve's emergency lending facilities was largely unchanged this week, indicating to some that the recent liquidity crisis isn't getting any worse.

The liquidity facility launched by the central bank over the weekend saw limited uptake compared to other emergency funding options.