BEN BERNANKE

Oil rose slightly on Tuesday after U.S. stock markets bounced off their lows amid lingering optimism that the government's plan to unburden banks of soured assets could help shore up the ailing economy.

Stocks edged lower on Tuesday as investors paused the day after a huge bounce to gauge if the government's latest plans to shore up the economy will be enough to sustain the recent rally.

U.S. President Barack Obama called for bold, comprehensive and coordinated action to end a global economic downturn on Tuesday as he prepared for an evening news conference to explain his recovery strategy to a recession-weary public.

Seeking to avoid another financial crisis similar to the potential failure of AIG last September, leaders of the U.S. Treasury and Federal Reserve urged lawmakers to give them additional authority to supervise the financial system, including the ability to close out struggling non-bank financial institutions.

The following are prepared remarks by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, who was set to testify in Washington today about the Fed’s involvement in the bailout of insurance giant American International Group Inc.

Wall Street was poised for a lower open on Tuesday the day after markets surged, as investors assessed a raft of recent moves to shore up the struggling economy and soft oil prices weighed on energy shares.

Stock index futures pointed to a lower open on Tuesday the day after markets surged, as investors assessed a raft of recent moves to shore up the struggling economy, while lower oil prices weighed on energy shares.

Despite the recent wave of unconventional moves to help stabilize the U.S. economy, the Federal Reserve must maintain its independence and focus on the stability of the economy as a whole, rather than specific sectors or types of institutions, the Fed and the U.S. Treasury said in an unusual joint statement on Monday.

Some of American International Group Inc's biggest rivals have urged U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke to prevent the insurance giant from using the government rescue to win an advantage, particularly by cutting prices, The Wall Street Journal reported.

The U.S. government will roll out next week a three-pronged bid to cleanse the U.S. financial system of toxic assets clogging banks' balance sheets, a source familiar with the plan said on Saturday.

The U.S. government will roll out next week a three-pronged bid to cleanse the U.S. financial system of toxic assets clogging banks' balance sheets, a source familiar with the plan said on Saturday.

A top priority for policy makers considering financial reform should be addressing the “too-big-to-fail” issue, Federal Reserve chief Ben Bernanke said on Friday, suggesting five fronts policy makers should look at.

Federal Reserve chief told bankers on Friday that continuing to lend in the current economic environment was no inconsistent with maintaining good risk management and high underwriting standards.

The following is the full text of a statement released by several federal agencies in the United States on November 12, 2008, encouraging financial institutions to set in place the conditions to improve lending in a responsible way.c

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke on Friday said the Fed's buying of longer-dated U.S. Treasuries would taper off when the economy no longer needed help, allowing the Fed to cease its emergency support.

The United States needs a safer way to shut down large nonbank financial firms without destabilizing the entire financial system, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said on Friday.

U.S. stock index futures pointed to a lower open on Friday, extending losses from the previous session, as investors became concerned about the inflationary effects of the Federal Reserve's move to buy long-term Treasuries.

A nagging question haunts U.S. government efforts to revive a dormant financial system: Can a crisis that started because of excess credit be solved with more debt? The typical answer from economists is a qualified no. That is, No, more credit will not make the problem go away. But yes, the government should do its best to restore bank lending to prevent an even worse economic outcome.

The U.S. Federal Reserve on Wednesday, in a surprise move, said it will buy up to $300 billion worth of longer-term U.S. government debt over the next six months and expand purchases of mortgage-related debt to help ease credit market conditions.

The U.S. Federal Reserve on Wednesday, in a surprise move, said it will buy up to $300 billion worth of longer-term U.S. government debt over the next six months and expand purchases of mortgage-related debt to help ease credit market conditions.

The Federal Reserve resumed a two-day meeting on Wednesday that was expected to end with a vow to do whatever it takes to turn back the U.S. economy's deep recession but no new concrete steps to do so.