Low Interest Rate, Interest Rate | featured news

Record-low interest rates are out of reach for many homeowners, and a big reason is that millions are underwater. Obama and others are trying to assist them. U.S. interest rates are at rock-bottom levels, but that's not helping most Americans with mortgages.

The Federal Reserve, hoping to give another shot in the arm to the pallid recovery, announced it would launch a new round of a controversial bond-buying stimulus program. The central bank also further extended its pledge to keep short-term interest rates near zero, now through the middle of 2015.

Low interest rates let governments keep their borrowing costs low, helping them live within their budgets without having to raise taxes or cut spending.

The central bank also said it would maintain its program of low-interest lending to euro-zone banks through the end of the year.

Stocks resumed their downward slide in early trading Wednesday as investors retreated from the initial optimism that greeted the Federal Reserve's decision the day before to keep interest rates low.

Japan’s central bank has cut its key interest rate to a range of zero to 0.1 percent, effectively introducing a zero interest rate policy.

Companies keep saving the money they’ve borrowed at low rates as they wait for the economy to improve, but it is unlikely to improve if they keep saving.

Unemployment is likely to stay high for a long time, two Federal Reserve officials said on Wednesday, suggesting the U.S. central bank is in no rush to raise its ultra-low interest-rate policy.

The Federal Reserve sounded a more confident note Wednesday that the economy is strengthening but pledged to hold rates at record lows to make sure it gains traction.

Federal subsidies, low interest rates, falling home prices--find out how to get on board before these benefits run out.