WASHINGTON — The Federal Reserve delivered a vote of confidence in the economy Wednesday, saying it would slow the pace of an emergency rescue program and indicating the recession appears to be ending.
The central bank also held interest rates steady at record lows, with a closely watched bank lending rate near zero, and pledged to keep them there for “an extended period” to nurture an anticipated recovery.
Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke and his colleagues said the economy appeared to be “leveling out” — a considerable upgrade from their last meeting, in June, when the Fed observed only that the economy’s contraction was slowing.
“We’re no longer at Defcon 1,” said Argus Research economist Richard Yamarone, referring to the defense term used to indicate being under siege. “The Fed is pulling in some of its life preservers now that the economy is no longer sinking.”
The more optimistic tone lifted Wall Street. The Dow Jones industrials gained about 120 points, or 1.3 percent, to close above 9,360 — near their highest level since the market bottomed out in early March.
The Fed said it would gradually slow the pace of its program to buy $300 billion worth of Treasury securities and shut it down at the end of October, a month later than previously scheduled.
It has bought $253 billion of the securities so far. The program is designed to force interest rates down for mortgages and other consumer debt and spur Americans to spend more money.
“I think the Fed is feeling increasingly comfortable about where the economy is going,” said Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s . “For the first time in two years, the Fed is taking one step — a baby step — toward unwinding the massive stimulus.”
The Treasury-buying program’s effectiveness has been questioned on both Wall Street and Capitol Hill.
The Fed left the target range for its bank lending rate at zero to 0.25 percent. And economists think it will stay there through the rest of this year. The rationale: Super-cheap lending will lead Americans to spend more, which will support the economy.
The Fed said inflation is likely to stay “subdued.” Fed policymakers predicted that idle factories and the weak employment market will make it hard for companies to jack up prices.
While unemployment dipped to 9.4 percent in July, the Fed says it’s likely to top 10 percent this year because companies are in no rush to hire.
