BANKING AFFAIRS

Detailed explanation-1: -The Fed has traditionally used three tools to conduct monetary policy: reserve requirements, the discount rate, and open market operations.

Detailed explanation-2: -The Fed controls the supply of money by increas-ing or decreasing the monetary base. The monetary base is related to the size of the Fed’s balance sheet; specifically, it is currency in circulation plus the deposit balances that depository institutions hold with the Federal Reserve.

Detailed explanation-3: -The Federal Reserve conducts the nation’s monetary policy by managing the level of short-term interest rates and influencing the availability and cost of credit in the economy. Monetary policy directly affects interest rates; it indirectly affects stock prices, wealth, and currency exchange rates.