U.S. Stock-Index Futures Rise on Central Banks' Liquidity Boost
By Eric Martin
Dec. 12 (Bloomberg) -- U.S. stock-index futures extended gains after the Federal Reserve and four other central banks said they will add cash to the banking system to bolster short- term financing.
Washington Mutual Inc., Citigroup Inc. and Countrywide Financial Corp. led gains among financial companies after the Fed announced steps to meet demand for funds.
Standard and Poor's 500 Index futures expiring in December added 30 to 1,508.1 as of 9:07 a.m. in New York. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures increased 230 to 13,680. Nasdaq-100 Index futures gained 36.25 to 2,126.25.
The Fed is coordinating the measures with the European Central Bank, Bank of England, Bank of Canada and Swiss National Bank, it said in a statement. The Fed will auction term funds to banks against a ``wide variety of collateral.'' All ``generally sound'' institutions can participate, the statement said.
To contact the reporter on this story: Eric Martin in New York at emartin21@bloomberg.net . Last Updated: December 12, 2007 09:09 EST |