BEN BERNANKE

The Federal Reserve may appear slightly more upbeat on the economy on Wednesday, though investors should not mistake this cautious optimism for any desire to raise interest rates soon.

The Federal Reserve began a two-day meeting on Tuesday that will likely show the central bank is slightly more upbeat on the economy but in little hurry to raise borrowing costs.

Federal Reserve officials are expected to be in wait-and-see mode on extra stimulus at the April Federal Open Market Committee meeting this week, as little has changed since the March meeting to warrant policy changes, economists say.

Bank of Japan Governor Masaaki Shirakawa has been doing his best to keep in check expectations of major new stimulus by the central bank next week.

Two top Federal Reserve officials pointed on Monday to last month's surprisingly weak jobs report as all the more reason to take a wait-and-see approach to a U.S. economy that, in general, is improving.

The Federal Reserve is independent but it does not exist in a vacuum, as waning appetite at the central bank for contentious bond purchases suggests.

The cost of living in the U.S. increased at a slower pace in March as the rise in energy prices eased, supporting the Federal Reserve’s view that the jump in oil and gas prices is only temporary.

U.S. Federal Reserve officials, out on a speaking spree on Thursday, suggested the economy would have to deteriorate for the central bank to consider additional monetary stimulus.

U.S. Federal Reserve officials, out on a speaking spree on Thursday, suggested the economy would have to deteriorate for the central bank to consider additional monetary stimulus.

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke pushed for new steps to stem risks from “shadow banking” operating beyond traditional oversight and said the economy is still suffering from the 2008 financial crisis.

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said on Monday banks need to have more capital at hand in order to ensure the financial system is stable.

The U.S. economy has yet to fully recover from the effects of the financial crisis, and regulators must continue to find new ways to strengthen the banking system, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said on Monday.

Some of the world's most prominent central bankers may have to hope the pen is as mighty as the sword.

Payrolls rose far less than expected in March, keeping the door open for further monetary policy support from the Federal Reserve, even as the unemployment rate fell to a three-year low of 8.2 percent.

U.S. employers hired 120,000 workers in March, well below economists' forecast, and the smallest gain since October, signaling the economy could be losing momentum.

Trading on nonpublic information is already illegal for House and Senate members, but the new law bars them and any other federal employee from trading on nonpublic information about upcoming legislation or regulations. It also tightens disclosure requirements on financial transactions.

The U.S. economy likely notched up a fourth month of solid job growth in March, which would lower the need for the Federal Reserve to offer additional monetary stimulus to spur faster economic growth.

The U.S. economy likely notched up a fourth month of solid job growth in March, which would lower the need for the Federal Reserve to offer additional monetary stimulus to spur faster economic growth.

U.S. employers probably hired more than 200,000 workers for the fourth straight month in March, economists said in anticipation of a report this week, pointing to another strong performance in the labor market.

Stocks were set to take a breather on Tuesday after the S&P 500 climbed to a 4-year high and ahead of factory orders data and minutes of the latest Federal Reserve meeting.

Stock index futures fell on Tuesday after the S&P 500 climbed to a 4-year high in the previous session as investors awaited factory orders data and minutes of the latest Federal Reserve meeting.