华盛顿 - 美国联邦储备局2月18日美东时间周四晚宣布，提高贴现率以推动银行从私人市场获得短期信用借贷。在一份声明中，美联储表示，将提高主要信贷贴现利率从0.50％至0.75％，并于周五有效。

美联储主席伯南克上周曾暗示美联储正在考虑提高贴现率。

观察人士曾预计，提高贴现率的举动将发生于3月的下一次美联储会议。今天的行动显示了美联储官方的紧迫感。美联储称，此举是对金融危机逐渐终止的“正常化”的操作。美联储表示：这种变化不是一个紧缩信号，也没有任何改变货币政策信号。

这一令人吃惊的消息在周四美国证卷市场收市后发出，美元随即飙升。


WASHINGTON  -- The Federal Reserve announced late Thursday that it was raising its discount rate in order to push banks to borrow from the private market for short-term credit. In a statement, the Fed said it would raise its discount, or primary credit rate, to 0.75% from 0.50% effective on Friday.

Fed chairman Ben Bernanke signaled last week that the Fed was mulling the move.

Fed watchers had expected the move to come at the next Fed meeting in March. Today's action shows a sense of urgency on the part of the Fed officials. The Fed said the move is intended to "normalize" their operations as the financial crisis winds down. The change is not a tightening and does not signal any change in monetary policy, the Fed said.

The dollar jumped against major counterparts on Thursday, after the Federal Reserve delivered a surprise hike in its discount rate after the close of U.S. markets. (MarketWatch)


The US Dollar Index measures the U.S. unit against a basket of six major currencies.

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Crude Oil and Commodity Prices February, Sunday 21 2010 - 17:48:11 Crude Oil $80.07 ▲0.26    0.33% 17:47 PM EST - 2010.02.21 Natural Gas $5.48 ▲0.007    0.13% 17:47 PM EST - 2010.02.21 [/td] Crude Oil Price by OIL-PRICE.NET © Price Change Trades Volume 17:48 - $ 80.07 0.26 0.33% 74,328 144,488 Range Open 52 Wk Range 1 Year Forecast 77.76 - 80.10 79.55 77.76 - 80.10 $ 92 / Barrel