Ben Bernanke | featured news

Ben Bernanke's confirmation to a second term as U.S. Federal Reserve chairman suddenly appeared in jeopardy on Friday even after U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said he would back him.

Stronger regulation should be the first line of defense against speculative bubbles that could send the economy into a new crisis, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said Sunday.

Sen. Shelby said he will vote against the confirmation of Fed Chairman Bernanke for a second term, as a Senate panel convened his confirmation hearing.

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke has been named Time magazine's "Person of the Year" for 2009. Last year's winner was then-President-elect Barack Obama. The 2007 winner was Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.

Bernanke said the U.S. economy will continue to grow in 2010 and the underlying strength of the world's largest economy will help ensure the dollar stays firm.

Bernanke called on Congress to act on financial reform efforts, as the central bank itself works to implement a number of measures that should help shore up the financial system.

The United States must reduce its budget deficit and Asian nations must encourage more consumption to prevent a recurrence of the global imbalances that contributed to the financial crisis, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said Monday.

The Fed should be in charge of regulating financial institutions, but a council of regulators could monitor broader risks, the Fed chairman said.

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said Friday a government program intended to spark lending to consumers and businesses is still necessary even with other emergency lending programs winding down as the economy recovers.

US President Barack Obama is to announce he is reappointing Ben Bernanke to a second term as chairman of the US central bank, the Federal Reserve.