Donnerstag, 6. Dezember 2012

PM Netanyahu Meets with German Chancellor Angela Merkel

Photo by GPO

06/12/2012

Prime Minister Netanyahu, this afternoon, following his lunch with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, thanked her for her hospitality and the many talks, which were held in a very good and open atmosphere. The Prime Minister told the Chancellor, "Germany, under your leadership, has been a true friend of the State of Israel; its efforts for Israel's security are deserving of all esteem. We will continue to maintain and tighten the deep relations between us.
Statement by PM Netanyahu at a Press Conference With Chancellor Angela Merkel

"Thank you, Angela. Thank you, Chancellor Merkel. I want to thank you for your warm reception to me, and the warm reception of your government to my colleagues, our entire delegation.

I know, and I heard it again yesterday and today, how important to you is the relationship between Israel and Germany. You said it's not just another relationship; it's a special relationship and it's deeply felt that you deeply feel it. And I appreciate it greatly. I appreciate the time and energy that you're devoting to strengthening this relationship, and I want to take this opportunity to make it absolutely clear that I have no doubt whatsoever about the depth of your commitment to Israel's security and to the well-being of the Jewish state.

We had an opportunity to have an excellent discussion last night, and it continued today. We spoke today about the various realms of cooperation – scientific, economic, academic, cultural – in every possible way between our two countries. But we devoted a great deal of time to the challenges that we face in this rapidly changing Middle East. We spoke about the need to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. We spoke about the need to ensure that Syria's stock of chemical weapons is not used or does not fall into the wrong hands, well terrorist hands in this case. We spoke about the need to advance peace with the Palestinians.

Israel remains fully committed to achieving a peace with the Palestinians, based on the principle of two states for two peoples, and in this peace, a demilitarized Palestinian state recognizes the Jewish state of Israel. I believe that the only way to achieve such a peace is through direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. I hope that the Palestinians will return to the negotiating table, that they do so without preconditions so that we can work together to forge a secure and lasting peace that address the needs of both Israelis and Palestinians alike.

Today I can say that in those discussions we also put in perspective – that's the way I would put it – we put in perspective, a genuine perspective, a real perspective, the many agreements that we have on all these issues and some others that I haven't mentioned, and put in perspective also the differences of view that we have, and we do have one or two. But I think that the overwhelming feeling that I come of these talks with is that we have a friend and a partner for peace and security, for security and peace in the Middle East as we seek to give our peoples a hope and a future in the coming decade and decades.

As I said before, the Government-to-Government meeting also enabled us to discuss a variety of other fields in security and trade, in science and agriculture, and many other areas. We're going and opening up area after area for German-Israeli cooperation, and for that and for everything else, I want to thank you, Chancellor Merkel. Thank you.

Questions and Answers from the Press Conference with PM Benjamin Netanyahu and German Chancellor Angela Merkel

PM: Thank you. I explained yesterday to Chancellor Merkel that we have been following the same policy for close to 45 years – that is, all Israeli governments have built in the Jewish neighborhoods of Jerusalem and in what are called the settlement blocs, which are really suburbs of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, where roughly 90% of Israeli citizens live in Judea and Samaria, in these suburbs that are very close to both Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. So that's not a new policy, and in this sense from previous governments to me, there's no change and there hasn't been a change.

The second point is about E1: This is a small corridor between one of these suburbs east of Jerusalem – about 40,000 people live there. It's about two miles from Jerusalem. Successive governments from Yitzhak Rabin on down to my predecessor, Mr. Olmert, have also said that this will be incorporated in a final peace treaty between Israel. The curious thing is that most governments who have looked at these suggestions, these proposals over the years, including the Palestinians themselves as revealed in leaked documents, understand that these blocs, these arrangements are going to be part of Israel in a final political settlement of peace. So I have not changed the policy. This is a consistent policy. My hope is that, as the dust settles, President Abbas decides to abandon unilateralism, as he went to the UN unilaterally – to abandon it, to return to the negotiations. We have our position; they have their positions.

The only way to really resolve them is to do what the Chancellor and I did last night, and it's a long process. You have to sit down and you have to discuss these differences and to see if you can come to a resolution. I think, what the Chancellor told me last night, it doesn't happen overnight. It takes time. Certainly between friends we can have disagreements, but we our friendship is solid and we understand that. With adversaries or former adversaries, it takes more time, but you can't finish a negotiation unless you start it. And Israel was and remains prepared to begin such direct negotiations without preconditions.

Q: …Prime Minister Netanyahu, we heard last week in Israel that somebody in the Foreign Ministry said after the vote in the UN that we lost Europe. Is that your conviction? And if so, how do you get Europe back? Thank you very much.

PM: Thank you. Look, I don't think we lost Europe when we have virtually universal support for our defensive operation in Gaza against the rocketing of our civilians by Palestinian terrorists. I think there was virtually universal support. There is obviously a difference of view in Europe on the issue of settlements because most Europeans believe that the issue, the root cause of our conflict with the Palestinians is the settlements. The settlements issue is one that has to be resolved in negotiations, but it is not the root cause of our conflict because this conflict was waged from the areas adjacent to Israel for 50 years before there was a single settlement.
The attempt to wipe out the Jewish state was conducted from 1920 to 1967, 47 years, when there wasn't a singer Israeli settlement or a single Israeli soldier in the West Bank or in Gaza. Having departed these territories, for example from Gaza, the attacks continue on Israel. Why? Why are they rocketing Israel? We left Gaza. The answer is that those who oppose Israel, oppose Israel in any boundary. If it was merely a territorial question, we would have resolved it long ago. And I believe that we still have to exhaust the possibility that we'll have a partner who really wants a territorial solution and is not existentially opposed to Israel's presence there in any boundary.

I think the root cause is not the settlements; it's an issue to be resolved. The root cause is the opposition to the State of Israel in any border. I hope that we can engage at least part of the Palestinian people in a discussion about mutual coexistence, about mutual peace, about two states for two peoples, about a Jewish state living next to a Palestinian state, about security borders for Israel. This is our task.
Now, I haven't given up on it, and I'll tell you the best proof that I haven't given up on that and in trying to persuade fair-minded, decent people and decent leaders in Europe, the best proof that I believe that that is a worthwhile and achievable objective is that fact that I am here and will continue to work with Chancellor Merkel and with her government, to see how we can advance this realistic peace. We don't give up so quickly, on anything.

Q: Yes, my question to Madam Chancellor first: Is Germany considering any other steps against Israel if Israel does continue with settlement expansion? And my question to Prime Minister Netanyahu, if you're willing, in Hebrew please, can you explain what caused this change of position within Europe in only two weeks?

PM: Thank you. Look, I think there is a lot of room for discussion and for seeking new ideas, because we haven't been able to break the mold. I suppose there is frustration in Europe that we haven't resolved the Palestinian problem, but remember that there have been six Israeli Prime Ministers since Oslo who have been unable to sign a peace accord with the Palestinian Authority, and it's not because of lack of trying from Yitzhak Rabin, through Shimon Peres, through myself to Ehud Barak and then Ariel Sharon and Ehud Olmert. Believe me, there were many generous offers that were given.

Sometimes I think that, in their desire to see a quick fix to the problem, many European governments can be frustrated but, as I said, I never lack the patience or the willingness to discuss with any fair-minded and decent leaders, and there are quite a few, to discuss the facts: how often we have been prepared to sit down the Palestinians and negotiate; what kind of steps Israel has taken, including my own government, for the sake of advancing peace. And you know, I think that the more as people look at this and we actually have a discussion, then they see that maybe there's a timidity on the Palestinian side, that they have not yet engaged in these kinds of direct negotiations, and as I say, the most important thing is that that peace will not be decided, not in the United Nations in New York, and not in Europe. It will be decided between Jerusalem and Ramallah, and the only way to advance that is to have those direct negotiations.

Q: …And Prime Minister, are you less disappointed about the German abstention now that you talked to the Chancellor?

PM: If you'd read the full quote, it began actually with my expression of appreciation for Chancellor Merkel's forthright support for Israel in our recent operation in Gaza, and by the way, it made a difference. I think it also helped us achieve a ceasefire, that kind of strong international support, which I thought it was very valuable. I then said that, even though I was disappointed with the German abstention, I knew that what guided Chancellor Merkel was her belief that this would somehow advance peace. My own regrettable comment is that the resolution, notwithstanding the intent, hardens Palestinian positions and may make it more difficult to enter into the direct negotiations that we all wish for. But I have no doubt about Chancellor Merkel's commitment to Israel – none whatsoever.

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FRB: 2012 Speeches

FRB: Speech--Bernanke, Challenges in Housing and Mortgage Markets--November 15, 2012

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Chairman Ben S. Bernanke

At the Operation HOPE Global Financial Dignity Summit, Atlanta, Georgia

November 15, 2012

Challenges in Housing and Mortgage Markets

Good afternoon. I'd like to thank John Bryant and Operation HOPE for inviting me to speak today.

I'd also like to congratulate Operation HOPE and the Ebenezer Baptist Church on the grand opening of the HOPE Financial Dignity Center, which holds the promise of becoming a tremendous resource for the people of Atlanta and sits next to Martin Luther King's home church. Dr. King's legacy to our society is strong and enduring, and the new center is very much in the spirit of his work.

The past few years have been difficult for many Americans and their communities. At the Federal Reserve, we understand the depth of the problem and the need for action, and we will continue to use the policy tools that we have to help support economic recovery. We also know that the burdens of a weak economy and the benefits of economic growth often are not equally shared, and that, to be truly effective, policymakers must take into account how their decisions affect the least advantaged, not just the economy as a whole.

My remarks today will focus on an important part of our economy, the housing sector.

Housing and housing finance played a central role in touching off the financial crisis and the associated recession, and the ensuing wave of foreclosures wreaked great damage on communities across the country.

As I will discuss, for the first time in a number of years, the housing sector is improving, adding to growth and jobs.

But the housing revival still faces significant obstacles, and the benefits of that revival remain quite uneven. Strengthening and broadening the housing recovery remain a critical challenge for policymakers, lenders, and community leaders. The degree to which that challenge is met will help determine the strength and sustainability of the economic recovery and the extent to which its benefits are broadly felt.

Developments in Housing and Housing Finance

The multiyear boom and bust in housing prices of the past decade, together with the sharp increase in mortgage delinquencies and defaults that followed, were among the principal causes of the financial crisis and the ensuing deep recession--a recession that cost some 8 million jobs.

And continued weakness in housing--reflected in falling prices, low rates of new construction, and historic levels of foreclosure--has proved a powerful headwind to recovery. It is encouraging, therefore, that we are seeing signs of improvement in the housing market in most parts of the country.

House prices nationally have increased for nine consecutive months, residential investment has risen about 15 percent from its low point, and sales of both new and existing homes have edged up.¹ Homebuilder sentiment has improved considerably over the past year, and real estate agents report a substantial rise in homebuyer traffic.

The growing demand for homes has been underpinned by record levels of affordability, the result of historically low mortgage rates and house prices that are 30 percent or more below their peaks in many areas.

To be sure, the housing sector is far from being out of the woods. Construction activity, sales, and prices remain much lower than they were before the crisis.

About 20 percent of mortgage borrowers remain underwater--that is, they owe more than their homes are worth. Despite marked improvements in overall credit quality, 7 percent of mortgages are either more than 90 days overdue or in the process of foreclosure.² And, although the number of homes in foreclosure has edged down since cresting in 2010, that number remains in excess of 2 million, three times the historical norm. Meanwhile, the national homeownership rate has slipped nearly 4 percentage points from its 2004 high of 69 percent, and it now stands at a 15-year low.³ So, although there are good reasons to be encouraged by the recent direction of the housing market, we should not be satisfied with the progress we have seen so far.

Lower-income and minority communities are often disproportionately affected by problems in the national economy, and the effects of the housing bust have followed that unfortunate pattern. Indeed, as a result of the crisis, most or all of the hard-won gains in homeownership made by low-income and minority communities in the past 15 years or so have been reversed. For example, among all income groups, between 2007 and 2010, homeownership rates fell the most for households with income of $20,000 or less, according to the Federal Reserve's Survey of Consumer Finances.⁴ Data from the Census Bureau show that, over the period from 2004 to 2012, the homeownership rate fell about 5 percentage points for African Americans, compared with about 2 percentage points for other groups.⁵

Homeownership rates fall when existing homeowners lose or leave their properties, when barriers to homeownership increase, or both. In recent years, both factors have been important. As I mentioned, home loss through foreclosure, though down from its peaks, remains an important problem, with lower-income and minority homeowners often being the hardest hit. Importantly, foreclosures can inflict economic damage beyond the personal suffering and dislocation that accompany them. Foreclosed properties that sit vacant for months (or years) often deteriorate from neglect, adversely affecting not only the value of the individual property but the values of nearby homes as well. Concentrations of foreclosures have been shown to do serious damage to neighborhoods and communities, reducing tax bases and leading to increased vandalism and crime. Thus, the overall effect of the foreclosure wave, especially when concentrated in lower-income and minority areas, is broader than its effects on individual homeowners. A strengthening housing market will help to gradually undo that damage, but the process has only begun.

Homeownership rates have also declined because fewer households have chosen, or have been able, to become new homeowners in recent years. Buying a home usually means obtaining a mortgage, and the data show that the pace of mortgage lending has fallen considerably on a national basis; the extension of first-lien mortgages to purchase homes fell by more than half from 2006 to 2011 and now stands at the lowest level since 1995.⁶ Again, the contraction in mortgage originations has been particularly severe for minority groups and those with lower incomes: Since the peak in mortgage lending in 2006, the number of home-purchase loans extended to African Americans and Hispanics has fallen more than 65 percent, whereas lending to non-Hispanic whites has fallen less than 50 percent. Home-purchase originations in lower-income neighborhoods have fallen about 75 percent, compared with around 50 percent for middle- and upper-income neighborhoods.
To be clear, the reduction in mortgage originations and home purchases for all groups relative to the pre-crisis period partly reflects weakness in the effective demand for housing rather than the unavailability of mortgage credit. Unemployment, income loss, and income insecurity prevent many households from purchasing homes, and concerns about the future direction of the labor market, housing prices, and the economy more generally keep other potential buyers on the sidelines. In addition, the fall in home prices means that many current homeowners cannot rely as much as they could in the past on tapping their existing home equity to trade up to larger or better homes, while underwater homeowners may be financially unable to move from their current homes.

Although the decline in the number of willing and qualified potential homebuyers explains some of the contraction in mortgage lending of the past few years, I believe that tight credit nevertheless remains an important factor as well. The Federal Reserve's Senior Loan Officer Opinion Survey on Bank Lending Practices indicates that lenders began tightening mortgage credit standards in 2007 and have not significantly eased standards since.⁷ Terms and standards have tightened most for borrowers with lower credit scores and with less money available for a down payment. For example, in April nearly 60 percent of lenders reported that they would be much less likely, relative to 2006, to originate a conforming home-purchase mortgage to a borrower with a 10 percent down payment and a credit score of 620--a traditional marker for those with weaker credit histories.⁸ As a result, the share of home-purchase borrowers with credit scores below 620 has fallen from about 17 percent of borrowers at the end of 2006 to about 5 percent more recently.⁹ Lenders also appear to have pulled back on offering these borrowers loans insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA).

When lenders were asked why they have originated fewer mortgages, they cited a variety of concerns, starting with worries about the economy, the outlook for house prices, and their existing real estate loan exposures. They also mention increases in servicing costs and the risk of being required by government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs) to repurchase delinquent loans (so-called putback risk). Other concerns include the reduced availability of private mortgage insurance for conventional loans and some program-specific issues for FHA loans as reasons for tighter standards. Also, some evidence suggests that mortgage originations for new purchases may be constrained because of processing capacity, as high levels of refinancing have drawn on the same personnel who would otherwise be available for handling loans for purchase. Importantly, however, restrictive mortgage lending conditions do not seem to be linked to any insufficiency of bank capital or to a general unwillingness to lend.

Certainly, some tightening of credit standards was an appropriate response to the lax lending conditions that prevailed in the years leading up to the peak in house prices. Mortgage loans that were poorly underwritten or inappropriate for the borrower's circumstances ultimately had devastating consequences for many families and communities, as well as for the financial institutions themselves and the broader economy. However, it seems likely at this point that the pendulum has swung too far the other way, and that overly tight lending standards may now be preventing creditworthy borrowers from buying homes, thereby slowing the revival in housing and impeding the economic recovery.

Policy Responses

The factors contributing to reduced mortgage lending and lower rates of homeownership are varied and complex; no simple solutions exist that can, on their own, restore the housing market to health. Since the extent of the crisis became apparent, a range of initiatives has been undertaken. For example, a number of public and private efforts have been made to help avoid unnecessary foreclosures and to enable underwater and other borrowers to refinance at lower interest rates. Alternatives to foreclosure, including short sales and deed-in-lieu arrangements, have become more common. The recent settlement with a group of large servicers includes provisions to improve the process for working with delinquent borrowers and to compensate foreclosed-upon homeowners who were unfairly treated in the past.

As I have noted, vacant foreclosed homes lose value and create problems for neighborhoods. The overhang of empty homes also slows the recovery of the housing market by keeping prices low and limiting the need for new construction. To explore ways to address the number of foreclosed homes standing empty, the Federal Housing Finance Agency, which supervises the GSEs, undertook a pilot initiative that made it easier for qualified investors to purchase pools of foreclosed properties from Fannie Mae; the acquired properties would then be rented for a specified number of years. For our part, the Federal Reserve is encouraging the institutions we supervise to manage their inventories of foreclosed homes in ways that do not exacerbate problems in local neighborhoods, including renting them out, where appropriate, rather than leaving the properties vacant.¹⁰

Policymakers have also taken steps to remove barriers to the flow of mortgage credit. The Federal Housing Finance Agency recently announced new rules that will provide mortgage lenders greater clarity about the conditions under which they will be required to buy back defaulted mortgages from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac or otherwise address origination problems. This greater clarity may result in reduced concern about putback risk, which in turn should increase the willingness of lenders to make new loans. In its rulemakings and supervision, the Federal Reserve, along with other bank supervisors, has worked with lenders to try to achieve an appropriate balance between reasonable prudence and ensuring that qualified borrowers are not denied access to credit.

Although regulatory policy will be important for restoring a fully functioning housing and mortgage market, the strength of the overall economic recovery is crucial as well. Obviously, loss of employment or income makes it more difficult for families to pay their mortgages, maintain good credit histories, refinance their mortgages at lower rates, and avoid foreclosure. People who are worried about their jobs are understandably more reluctant to purchase homes, and households who have suffered hits to their incomes face difficulty qualifying for a mortgage and saving for a down payment. Concerns about the financial strength of households and about the economic recovery also make lenders more cautious.

At the Federal Reserve, we have sought to support the economic recovery and maintain price stability--the two goals given to us by the Congress--by keeping both short-term and longer-term interest rates historically low. Low interest rates reduce the cost to households of buying homes, cars, and other consumer durables while increasing the attractiveness of new capital investments by firms. Increased demand in turn leads to faster economic growth and more jobs. My colleagues and I have been and remain quite concerned about the stubbornly high level of unemployment--particularly long-term unemployment. We have taken strong actions throughout the financial crisis and recovery to help stabilize the economy. In September, we took the added step of stating that we will continue actions to put downward pressure on longer-term interest rates until the outlook for the job market improves substantially in a context of price stability. Our hope is that our statement provides individuals, families, businesses, and financial markets greater confidence about the Federal Reserve's commitment to promoting a sustainable recovery with price stability and that, as a result, they will become more willing to invest, hire and spend. In addition, of course, the historically low mortgage rates that have resulted from the Federal Reserve's policies are directly supporting the housing market by putting homeownership within the reach of more people.

While the economic recovery and regulatory policy affect access to credit for all households, some potential borrowers may face the added burden of discrimination. In our role as a banking regulator, the Federal Reserve strives to ensure that the banks we supervise obey laws that prohibit illegal discrimination in lending. I am reminded here that fair treatment in housing was a significant focus of Dr. King's, and the Fair Housing Act of 1968--still one of the nation's cornerstone laws to prohibit discrimination--was passed only a week after his assassination and stands among his legacies.

Two types of discrimination continue to have particular significance to mortgage markets: One is redlining, in which mortgage lenders discriminate against minority neighborhoods, and the other is pricing discrimination, in which lenders charge minorities higher loan prices than they would to comparable nonminority borrowers. The Federal Reserve has been vigilant in identifying and stopping such abuses, and we remain committed to vigorous enforcement of the nation's fair lending laws. We currently co-chair, with the Department of Justice, an interagency task force to promote robust fair lending supervision and enforcement.

Government policies, both microeconomic and macroeconomic, have an important role to play in restoring the health of the housing sector. However, government can only be part of the solution; in the remainder of my remarks I will discuss what others can do, including potential homeowners themselves.

Financial Preparedness and Homeownership

One lesson of the past few years is that the desire to own a home is not enough. Although many foreclosures resulted from job loss or other economic hardships, others occurred because people bought more of a house than they could afford, took out a loan that was not appropriate to their circumstances, or did not manage their resources well. Future homeownership must be built on a more solid foundation. And while much of the responsibility for building that foundation must lie with lenders and with regulators, consumers must do their part as well by acquiring the information and financial knowledge they need to make sound decisions. Operation HOPE has made this point frequently and forcefully.

Effective financial education--aimed at both youths and adults--can provide people with the knowledge they need. Some of the skills that prospective homeowners need are relatively basic--for example, knowing how to shop for the lowest interest rate and fees, understanding the difference between a fixed-rate and an adjustable-rate mortgage, and, very importantly, knowing how to find trustworthy information and advice. More generally, the decision to buy a home must be consistent with a family's longer-term objectives, needs, and resources. Good financial planning--including effective budgeting, adequate saving, and sensible investing--can help families maintain homeownership while also pursuing other important objectives, such as preparing for retirement or financial emergencies. And financially informed households will have a better chance to build wealth, reducing--in the case of minority households--the large wealth gap that exists between minorities and other groups.

At the Federal Reserve, we appreciate the benefits to families of acquiring basic information and skills about managing their money. But we see another important advantage of financial education, which is that an economy with financially knowledgeable households is likely to be stronger, more equal, and more stable. As such, we all gain from efforts to increase financial literacy.

Although basic knowledge about money management and decisionmaking is extremely useful, it is not practical, of course, for everyone to be a financial expert. Sometimes a professional can help, and people should not be afraid to seek advice at appropriate times. For example, an individual may be involved in buying a home--a complex and intimidating experience for many people--only once or twice in a lifetime. That's why advice from a housing counselor at the right point in the process can make all the difference. Nonprofit organizations can help prospective homeowners assess their readiness to purchase. And, by providing useful information about how to search for a home, apply for financing, handle home maintenance, and prevent delinquency, these nonprofits can help aspiring homebuyers find the right home and maintain their mortgage payments. ¹¹ We have also seen that counseling can help consumers who are facing delinquency or default. Borrowers in trouble who receive foreclosure counseling are relatively more likely to subsequently become current on their mortgage, receive a loan modification, and, ultimately, keep their home. ¹²

Financial preparedness is important not only for prospective homebuyers. It ought to be a lifelong undertaking, starting with children and teenagers. Organizations around the country--including Operation HOPE--help people across a range of ages develop their skills. Despite, or perhaps because of, the broader economic challenges we face, it now seems to be a time of creativity and innovation in this field. We are seeing experimentation, knowledge sharing, public-private collaborations, "bottom up" community-driven approaches, and state- and local-government efforts to promote family financial security and opportunity.

More generally, community organizations like Operation HOPE have played an important role in helping low-income and minority communities weather the storm of the past few years. Besides promoting financial literacy and providing counseling (and sometimes credit) for homebuyers, community organizations have helped build small businesses through investment and technical assistance. Organizations such as NeighborWorks America (and as an aside, Federal Reserve Governor Sarah Bloom Raskin currently chairs its board) have been leaders in fighting the blight in neighborhoods with high rates of foreclosure. Unfortunately, just as families have been hurt by the financial crisis and recession, so have many community-based organizations. These groups face the daunting task of finding new sources of capital and investment in a constrained financial environment. Some organizations have begun to retool their operations and develop new markets, products, and strategies to better serve the financial needs of consumers and communities. Among other goals, they are developing strategies to foster responsible homeownership, which they see as an important building block for stronger communities.

To return to where I began, after a long and difficult period, we are seeing welcome signs of improvement in the housing market. An improving housing market will in turn aid the economic recovery while strengthening neighborhoods and increasing the financial well-being of families. Our recovery must be broadly felt to be complete, and families and communities that were already struggling before the crisis must be included in that recovery. As Dr. King is widely quoted to have said, "We may have all come on different ships, but we're in the same boat now."
The Federal Reserve will continue to do what we can to support the housing recovery, both through our monetary policy and our regulatory and supervisory actions. But, as I have discussed, not all of the responsibility lies with the government; households, the financial services industry, and those in the nonprofit sector must play their part as well. In that spirit, I would like to close by expressing my appreciation and admiration for the work that so many of you are doing to restore our neighborhoods and to help individuals and families regain a solid financial footing.

Thank you.

1. House prices are a staff calculation based on seasonally adjusted data from CoreLogic. Residential investment includes construction of single-family and multifamily houses as well as improvements to existing structures and brokers' commissions. The staff calculation of residential investment is based on data from the national income and product accounts. Home sales data are from the Census Bureau and the National Association of Realtors. Return to text

2. This is a staff calculation for 2012:Q2 based on data from the Mortgage Bankers Association's National Delinquency Survey. Return to text

3. See U.S. Census Bureau (2012), "Housing Vacancies and Homeownership," webpage, third quarter, historical tables, table 16. Return to text

4. Derived from the Board's Survey of Consumer Finances. See Jesse Bricker, Arthur B. Kennickell, Kevin B. Moore, and John Sabelhaus (2012), "Changes in U.S. Family Finances from 2007 to 2010: Evidence from the Survey of Consumer Finances (PDF)," Federal Reserve Bulletin, vol. 98 (February), pp. 1-80. Return to text

5. The homeownership rate for each year is calculated as the average of the quarters displayed in table 16 of "Housing Vacancies and Homeownership." See U.S. Census Bureau, "Housing Vacancies," table 16, in note 3. Return to text

6. Data on home-purchase lending are from annual filings pursuant to the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act. Data are available at Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council, "Home Mortgage Disclosure Act," webpage. Return to text

7. The Senior Loan Officer Opinion Survey on Bank Lending Practices is available on the Board's website. Return to text

8. A conforming mortgage is one that is eligible for purchase or credit guarantee by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. Return to text

9. These data are staff calculations based on the Federal Reserve Bank of New York Consumer Credit Panel. The 10th percentile of credit scores on mortgage originations rose from 585 in 2006 to 635 at the end of 2011. Return to text
10. See Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Division of Banking Supervision and Regulation (2012), "Policy Statement on Rental of Residential Other Real Estate Owned (OREO) Properties," Supervision and Regulation Letter SR 12-5 (April 5). Return to text
11. See U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (2012), Pre-Purchase Counseling Outcome Study: Research Brief Housing Counseling Outcome Evaluation Leaving the Board

(Washington: HUD). Return to text
12. See J. Michael Collins and Maximilian D. Schmeiser (forthcoming), "The Effects of Foreclosure Counseling for Distressed Homeowners," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management. Return to text

2012 Speeches

Last update: November 15, 2012

Donnerstag, 15. November 2012

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Mittwoch, 14. November 2012

FRB: Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act -Resolution Plans

FRB: Resolution Plans

Resolution Plans

The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act requires that bank holding companies with total consolidated assets of $50 billion or more and nonbank financial companies designated by the Financial Stability Oversight Council for supervision by the Federal Reserve submit resolution plans annually to the Federal Reserve and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).

Each plan, commonly known as a living will, must describe the company's strategy for rapid and orderly resolution under the Bankruptcy Code in the event of material financial distress or failure of the company.

Companies subject to the rule are required to file their initial resolution plans in three groups and on a staggered schedule. Plans for the first group, which includes U.S. bank holding companies with $250 billion or more in total nonbank assets and foreign-based bank holding companies with $250 billion or more in total U.S. nonbank assets, must be submitted on or before July 2, 2012.

As required under section 243.8(c) of the Board's Regulation QQ (12 CFR 243.8(c)), each resolution plan must be divided into a public section and a confidential section. The public sections available on the Board’s website have not been edited or reviewed by the Board and are provided exactly as submitted by the companies.

Bank of America (7.4 MB PDF)

Bank of New York Mellon (PDF)

Barclays (2.3 MB PDF)

Citigroup (2.3 MB PDF)

Credit Suisse (1.0 MB PDF)

Deutsche Bank (5.0 MB PDF)

Goldman Sachs (5.2 MB PDF)

JPMorgan Chase (5.8 MB PDF)

Morgan Stanley (4.3 MB PDF)

State Street (PDF)

UBS (4.5 MB PDF)

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Sonntag, 11. November 2012

Presidente Cavaco Silva encontrou se com Presidente Barack Obama na Casa...

Samstag, 10. November 2012

Inside the DoD: Nov. 09, 2012

Stefan Raab und die Höhner Ävver et Hätz bliev he in Kölle YouTube

Stefan Raab und die Höhner -- Ävver et Hätz bliev he in Kölle

Donnerstag, 8. November 2012

Stephanie Cutter: Election Day

Montag, 5. November 2012

GM Announces New $11 Billion Revolving Credit Facility

DETROIT (USA) – General Motors Co. today announced a new $11 billion revolving credit facility consisting of a $5.5 billion three-year facility and a $5.5 billion five-year facility. The new facility replaces GM’s existing $5.0 billion credit facility maturing in 2015.

“The new revolver provides a significant source of backup liquidity and financial flexibility, further bolstering our fortress balance sheet,” said Dan Ammann, GM senior vice president and CFO. “This level of commitment from the global banking community represents a strong vote of confidence in the financial strength of our company.”

The facility offers improved pricing and terms, and the ability to borrow in currencies other than U.S. dollars. GM Financial, GM’s captive finance company, will also be able to borrow under the facility.

A total of 35 financial institutions from 14 countries participated in the broadly syndicated transaction, underscoring the global scope of GM’s operations.

The new facility is expected to be rated investment grade by each of the major credit rating agencies.

General Motors Co.

(NYSE:GM, TSX: GMM) and its partners produce vehicles in 30 countries, and the company has leadership positions in the world's largest and fastest-growing automotive markets.

GM’s brands include Chevrolet and Cadillac, as well as Baojun, Buick, GMC, Holden, Jiefang, Opel, Vauxhall and Wuling. More information on the company and its subsidiaries, including OnStar, a global leader in vehicle safety, security and information services, can be found at

http://www.gm.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

In this press release and in related comments by our management, our use of the words “expect,” “anticipate,” “possible,” “potential,” “target,” “believe,” “commit,” “intend,” “continue,” “may,” “would,” “could,” “should,” “project,” “projected,” “positioned” or similar expressions is intended to identify forward-looking statements that represent our current judgment about possible future events.

We believe these judgments are reasonable, but these statements are not guarantees of any events or financial results, and our actual results may differ materially due to a variety of important factors.

Among other items, such factors might include: our ability to realize production efficiencies and to achieve reductions in costs as a result of our restructuring initiatives and labor modifications; our ability to maintain quality control over our vehicles and avoid material vehicle recalls; our ability to maintain adequate liquidity and financing sources and an appropriate level of debt, including as required to fund our planned significant investment in new technology; the ability of our suppliers to timely deliver parts, components and systems; our ability to realize successful vehicle applications of new technology; the overall strength and stability of our markets, particularly Europe; and our ability to continue to attract new customers, particularly for our new products.

GM's most recent annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q provides information about these and other factors, which we may revise or supplement in future reports to the SEC.

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Stephanie Cutter: "The Best Way to Fact Check Them is to Vote"

Sonntag, 4. November 2012

Trailer US-Film "SEAL TEAM SIX THE RAID ON OSAMA BIN LADEN"

President Clinton Introduces President Obama in Bristow, VA - Full Speech

Samstag, 3. November 2012

President Obama: I Bet on the American Worker and it Paid Off

Donnerstag, 1. November 2012

President Obama Gov Chris Christie Survey Hurricane Damage In New Jers...

Jim Messina's State of the Race - President Obama will win re-election i...

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu flew to Paris to meet with French Presiden...

George Clooney adds Craig, Blanchett, and Murray to The Monuments Men - National Movie News | Examiner.com

SignOn.org - Superstorm Sandy victims must be able to vote!

Montag, 29. Oktober 2012

US-Präsident Barack Obama zum Hurrikan Sandy in den USA President Obama ...

Mobile Claims Center Locations - Allstate

Stephanie Cutter: "Des Moines Register endorsement not based 'in reality...

Samstag, 27. Oktober 2012

Wall Street Reform Two-Years Later: Reforming the System and Protecting American Consumers | The White House

US President Obama: "Protecting the American People with New Wall Street Reforms" YouTube

WASHINGTON, DC— In this week's address, US-President Barack Obama highlighted the work of the new independent consumer watchdog he fought to create, which stands up for consumers and protects Americans from mistakes made by the companies who determine your credit scores.

Republicans in Congress have tried to roll back consumer protections that help prevent big banks from creating another financial crisis, but the President refuses to let that happen and will continue to fight for working Americans as we move this country forward.

If you have a complaint about your credit score that hasn't been properly addressed, you can go to Consumer Financial Protection Bureau :

http://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/

and let the consumer watchdog know.

Read the text with the Weekly Address from US-President Obama "Protecting the American People with New Wall Street Reforms" from The White House here:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/10/27/weekly-address-protecti...

Read more about the Weekly Address from US-President Barack Obama: "Protecting the American People with New Wall Street Reforms" at The White House Blog here:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2012/10/27/weekly-address-protecting-american-...

A quick and simple animated explanation of how Wall Street Reform will work and what the strongest consumer protections in history will mean for you and your family is here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLkuVA1ByfM&list=UUzX2KDX2G43zUis7bgNgx9w&....

Find more about Presiedent Barack Obama `s Wallstreet Reform here:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2012/07/21/wall-street-reform-two-years-later-reforming-system-and-protecting-american-consumer

http://www.whitehouse.gov/economy/middle-class/dodd-frank-wall-street-reform

Find the original-video from The White House in Washington here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=6KVDE1FHcvI

On The Money: Why to invest in Russia (ft. Jim Rogers)

Weekly Address: Protecting the American People with New Wall Street Reforms | The White House

In this week's address, President Obama highlights the work of the new independent consumer watchdog he fought to create. This agency's mission is to stand up for consumers and includes protecting every American from mistakes made by the companies who determine their credit scores.

US-Elections: Early voting in the USA - Vote Early in America

If you are planning to vote early, I suggest you watch this short video showing how to operate eSlate electronic voting system.

If you have a question about the voting machine while voting, be sure to get the attention of a pollworker before your ballot is cast.

Review the summary screens before casting your ballot to make certain your ballot is marked as you intended.

Once the ballot is cast, it cannot be retrieved or re-voted.

Wenn Sie planen, jetzt schon in den USA zu wählen, empfehle ich Ihnen dieses kurze Video anzusehen.

Es zeigt Ihnen, wie Sie in das elektronische Abstimmungssystem eSlate für Ihre Wahl nutzen können.

Hier ein Beispiel aus Texas in den USA:

http://www.tarrantcounty.com/evote/site/default.asp

http://www.votexas.org/

Read here more about "Early voting" at Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_voting

Übersetzung mit Hilfe von:

http://www.leo.org/

Freitag, 26. Oktober 2012

'Gotta Vote' Bus Tour comes to North Carolina

Donnerstag, 25. Oktober 2012

Präsident Obama zur Geburtsurkunde Obama on His Birth Certificate the Re...

US-President Barack Obama on His Birth Certificate & the Real Issues Facing America

In 2008, in response to media inquiries, the US-President Barack Obama campaign requested his birth certificate from the state of Hawaii.

The state sent the campaign the President's birth certificate, the same legal documentation provided to all Hawaiians as proof of birth in state, and the campaign immediately posted it on the internet. That birth certificate can be seen here as a PDF:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/rss_viewer/birth-certificate.pdf

When any citizen born in Hawaii requests their birth certificate, they receive exactly what the President received. In fact, the document posted on the campaign website is what Hawaiians use to get a driver's license from the state and the document recognized by the Federal Government and the courts for all legal purposes. That's because it is the birth certificate. This is not and should not be an open question.

The President believed the distraction over his birth certificate wasn't good for the country. It may have been good politics and good TV, but it was bad for the American people and distracting from the many challenges we face as a country. Therefore, the President directed his counsel to review the legal authority for seeking access to the long form certificate and to request on that basis that the Hawaii State Department of Health make an exception to release a copy of his long form birth certificate.

They granted that exception in part because of the tremendous volume of requests they had been getting.

President Barack Obama's long form birth certificate can be seen here as a PDF:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/rss_viewer/birth-certificate-lo...

See the video "US- President Barack Obama on His Birth Certificate & the Real Issues Facing America" from The White House in Washington here:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/photos-and-video/video/2011/04/27/president-obama-h...

President Obama discusses the release of his long form birth certificate, having long ago released his standard birth certificate, and says that "We've got big problems to solve. And I'm confident we can solve them, but we're going to have to focus on them -- not on this."

See the video:" President Obama on His Birth Certificate & the Real Issues Facing America" here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=bnYJI4QTpXs

Read the speech from US-President Barack Obama to his "Birth Certificate & the Real Issues Facing America" here:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/04/27/remarks-president

Read more to "President Obama's Long Form Birth Certificate" at The White House Blog here:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/04/27/president-obamas-long-form-birth-ce...

Samstag, 8. Dezember 2012