Bernanke Extends Program to Increase Consumer and Business Lending
Fed Chairman Bernanke posed the “existence of an ongoing need” for a lending facility to serve businesses and consumers Friday. The Term Asset-Backed Securities Loan Facility (TALF), while originally set to expire at the end of this year, will be extended into the next, with a potential to generate $1 trillion for residential and commercial borrowers. The TALF represents the central mechanism of the Fed/Obama administration’s attempts to restore the flow of credit and stabilize the markets. Citing the demand to further drive down rates on car loans by continuing to employ the TALF mechanisms to bolster the automotive industry…