Question

Based on your understanding of the impact of macroeconomic factors, identify which of the following statements are true or false?
1. Countries with strong balance sheets and declining budget deficits tend to have lower interest rates.
2. When the economy is weakening, the Fed is likely to increase short-term interest rates. During the credit crisis of 2008, investors around the world were fearful about the collapse of real estate markets, shaky stock markets, and illiquidity of several securities in the United States and several other nations.
3. The demand for US Treasury bonds increased, which led to a rise in their price and a decline in their yields.
4. When the economy is weakening, the Fed is likely to decrease short-term interest rates.

Answer 1

Answer:

1. True
2. False
3. True
4. True

Explanation:

When an economy has a strong balance sheet and a declining budget deficit, it means that there is less need to borrow from the market which would keep rates lower.

When the economy is weakening, the Fed will try to stimulate it by engaging in actions that weaken short term interest rates so that people and businesses can borrow at lower cost and invest or buy goods and services.

When investors are worried about the riskiness of other financial assets, they usually come to safer assets like U.S. Treasury bonds so that they do not lose money and this is what happened in the credit crisis of 2008. More demand for the bonds led to a rise in their price.