Fed hints at end to US rate rises

[Ibrahim.m.h]

Fed hints at end to US rate rises




Inflation remains a key issue for Fed Reserve boss Ben Bernanke

The US Federal Reserve has hinted that its policy of raising interest rates could be approaching an end.
Minutes from the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) revealed that most members believed "the end of the tightening process" was near.
The Fed Reserve raised rates in March for the 15th time in a row to 4.75%, the highest level since April 2001.
The eagerly awaited FOMC minutes were the first covering a meeting held by new Fed Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke. The prospect of an end to interest rate rises helped push the Dow Jones index up by almost 2% to 11,262.04 in late US trade.