Fed Slashes Rates Yet Again in October

N E W  Y O R K, Oct. 2 -- The Federal Reserve slashed short-term interest rates by another half-point today, bringing them to the lowest levels since the Kennedy administration, in an effort to boost consumer and business spending and revive the downtrodden economy.

The Fed's policy setting arm, the Federal Open Market Committee, lowered its benchmark federal funds rate by a half percentage point to 2.50 percent, its lowest since May 1962. It also lowered the more symbolic discount rate by a half-point to 2 percent.

Several major banks immediately followed the Fed's lead and lowered their prime lending rate to 5.5 percent from 6 percent. M&T Bank, Bank of America and FleetBoston Financial acted immediately, with other banks likely to follow suit.

"The terrorist attacks have significantly heightened uncertainty in an economy that was already weak," the Fed said in its accompanying statement. "Business and household spending as a consequence are being further damped. Nonetheless, the long-term prospects for productivity growth and the economy remain favorable and should become evident once the unusual forces restraining demand abate."

Financial markets registered a positive reaction to the move, with the Dow Jones industrial average climbing more than 110 points and the Nasdaq composite index ending the day in positive territory.

"Markets expected it. Everyone expected it. The Fed did it. It's needed," said Alan Sinai, an economist with Decision Economics in Boston. "The real question now is how much more, if anything, the Federal Reserve will do."

Cutting Rates Aggressively

Prior to today's decision there was virtually unanimous consent on Wall Street that the economy needed another shot in the arm. Even before Sept. 11, the Fed was cutting rates aggressively in an effort to encourage consumers and businesses to borrow.

After last month's terror attacks that all but shuttered the U.S. economy and financial markets for a week, the Fed stepped in with a half-point cut on Sept. 17 to stimulate growth — and confidence.