Fed’s emergency loan program increases activity

AP

By MARTIN CRUTSINGER

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Federal Reserve boosted its lending to commercial banks and investment firms over the past week, indicating that a severe credit crisis was still squeezing the financial system.

The Fed released a report Friday saying commercial banks averaged $93.6 billion in daily borrowing for the week ending Wednesday. That was up from an average of $91.6 billion for the week ending Nov. 19.

The report also said investment firms borrowed an average of $52.4 billion from the Fed’s emergency loan program over the week ending Wednesday, up from an average of $50.2 billion the previous week.