Fed Cuts Funds Rate to 2.25%

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aCQcbgTBPlPE&refer=home

March 18 (Bloomberg) -- The Federal Reserve cut its main lending rate by three quarters of a percentage point to 2.25 percent as officials try to prop up the faltering economy and restore faith in the U.S. financial system.

The Fed Board of Governors also voted to lower the discount rate, the cost of direct loans from the central bank, to 2.5 percent. Officials reduced the normal 1-point spread over the federal funds rate in August to a half point to ease liquidity constraints. They further narrowed the difference on March 16, in the first weekend emergency move since 1979.