Open Thread

October 7th, 2008 2:27 AM

For general discussion and debate. Possible talking point: a glimmer of hope.

Ben S. Bernanke and his fellow global policy makers may move to unblock markets for loans between banks and commercial paper as their next steps to combat the 14- month credit crisis. In the U.S., Federal Reserve chief Bernanke yesterday signaled he's preparing measures with Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson to unfreeze markets where loans aren't secured by assets. In Europe, the biggest slide in stocks since 1987 may push governments and central banks to coordinate aid to the region's financial industry and lower interest rates...``The Fed's not done yet,'' said former Fed Governor Lawrence Meyer, now vice chairman of Macroeconomic Advisers in St. Louis, Missouri. ``They're going to try to leapfrog ahead and do something even more dramatic.''...``Bernanke is a student of the depression, and it is not going to happen on his watch,'' said Michael Darda, chief economist at MKM Partners LP. ``The Fed will pull out all the stops until something starts working.''

This is one of the most uplifting articles I've read in weeks. Read the whole thing, and tell me what you think.