U.S. Federal Reserve

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Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke (left) speaks with former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker before President Obama signs the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington on Wednesday, July 21, 2010. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

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The Federal Reserve headquarters in Washington (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

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** FILE ** In this April 16, 2008, photo, Janet L. Yellen, president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, speaks about foreclosures to the Bay Area Council Outlook Conference in Alameda, Calif. President Obama on Thursday, April 29, 2010, named Ms. Yellen to be vice chairwoman of the Federal Reserve and filled two other vacancies at the central bank whose decisions influence economic activity, employment and inflation. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)

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The Fed's prolonged low interest rate policy hasn't delivered the promised economic recovery. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

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** FILE ** Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner has a word with Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke as they testify before the House Financial Services Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington on Tuesday, April 20, 2010. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

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** FILE ** Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke

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Traders signal in the CME Group's S&P 500 futures pit in Chicago Wednesday shortly after the Federal Reserve cut interest rates by a half-point.

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A television screen at the New York Stock Exchange shows the decision of the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates, Wednesday Oct. 8, 2008. The emergency cut led by the Federal Reserve will at least temporarily provide relief for investors who have been battered this week. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)