2012 Economic Calendar
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Fed Balance Sheet
Released On 9/27/2012 4:30:00 PM For wk9/26, 2012
PriorActual
Total Assets - Weekly Change$-1.9 B$-17.2 B
Reserve Bank credit - Weekly Change$1.0 B$-10.8 B

Highlights
For the September 26 week, total assets dropped another $17.2 billion after decreasing $1.9 billion the prior week. The decrease was led by a $15.2 billion decline in mortgage-backed securities with federal agency debt dipping $3.7 billion. On the upside, holdings of Treasuries gained $2.3 billion and central bank liquidity swaps rose $1.1 billion.

Total assets stood at $2.806 trillion in the September 26 week.

Reserve Bank credit for the September 26 week fell $10.8 billion ,following a $1.0 billion increase the week before.

Note: Total assets in the Fed's H.4.1 report are Wednesday levels while Reserve Bank credit is an average of daily figures for the week ending on the same Wednesday. Changes in total assets are from Wednesday to Wednesday while changes in Reserve Bank credit are for weekly averages.
Definition
The Fed's balance sheet is a report showing factors supplying reserves into the banking system and factors absorbing (using) reserve funds. Essentially, the balance sheet shows the various Fed programs for injecting liquidity into the economy and how much the Fed has used each for adding or withdrawing reserves. This report is called Factors Affecting Reserve Balances - or the "H.4.1" report using Fed jargon.  Why Investors Care
 
[Chart]
The Fed began using its balance sheet to expand liquidity starting in late 2008. Quantitative easing QE1 started in late 2008 and QE2 began in late 2010 and ended in June 2011. However, the level of the Fed's assets (reflecting available liquidity) remains quite elevated.
Data Source: Haver Analytics
 
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