Federal Reserve System

Federal Reserve System definition - business

Federal Reserve System

The independent central bank that influences the supply of money and credit in the United States through its control of bank reserves. Federal Reserve actions have great impact on security prices. For example, restriction of bank reserves and lending ability in an attempt to restrain inflation tends to drive up interest rates and drive down security prices over the short run. Also called Fed. See also Federal Open Market Committee.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Business Terms Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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