2012 Economic Calendar
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Fed Balance Sheet
Released On 10/4/2012 4:30:00 PM For wk10/3, 2012
PriorActual
Total Assets - Weekly Change$-17.2 B$4.0 B
Reserve Bank credit - Weekly Change$-10.8 B$-11.0 B

Highlights
For the October 3 week, total assets rebounded $4.0 billion after dropping $17.2 billion the week before. The gain was led by holdings of Treasuries which increased $4.5 billion. "Other assets" (largely those denominated in foreign currencies) grew $1.7 billion. On the downside, central bank liquidity swaps fell $2.1 billion.

Total assets stood at $2.810 trillion in the October 3 week.

Reserve Bank credit for the October 3 week declined $11.0 billion after falling $10.8 billion 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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