The Markets Group comprises many business
areas that fulfill a range of responsibilities, from planning
and executing open market operations to managing foreign customer
accounts. The six main business areas are:
| Automation Services |
- Provides data analysis and software engineering/development
services.
- Researches, tests and implements automation-related
projects and facilitates data collection and distribution.
- Maintains the Markets Group data network and provides
desktop and contingency-site support.
|
| Central Bank and International Account Services |
- Provides cash management, payment, securities clearing,
custody, specialized investment, and settlement and
confirmation services for Federal Reserve accounts
held by foreign central banks and international agencies.
- Acts as fiscal agent to the U.S. Treasury by providing
settlement services in support of government securities
auctions.
|
| Domestic Reserves Management |
- Manages the supply of bank reserves in the banking
system to achieve the policy targets of the Federal
Open Market Committee (FOMC).
- Projects the behavior of the components of the Federal
Reserve's balance sheet and the liquidity demands
of depository institutions.
- Formulates and conducts temporary open market operations
through repurchase agreements.
|
| Financial Management and Discount Window |
- Provides accounting and portfolio management activities
for both the domestic and foreign System Open Market
Account portfolios.
- Provides accounting services for the group's correspondent
banking activities.
- Researches and recommends accounting policy for
Markets Group financial activities.
- Serves as the central area for managing all operational
and some financial risk for the activities of the
Markets Group.
- Provides performance measurement and administrative
services to the Group.
- Provides access to the Discount Window for institutions
experiencing temporary liquidity needs.
|
| Fixed Income and Foreign Exchange |
- Implements the monetary policy directives of the
Federal Open Market Committee, the Federal Reserve's
policy making arm, through the purchase and sale of
U.S. Treasury securities for the System Open Market
Account (SOMA).
- Implements the foreign exchange policy of the U.S.
monetary authorities and invests a portfolio of foreign
currency reserves on their behalf.
- Monitors global financial markets, providing briefings
in support of the Federal Reserve System and U.S.
Treasury.
- Monitors price movements and activity in the Treasury
market and related financing market on behalf of the
Interagency Working Group on Market Surveillance.
- Provides fiscal agency services in support of Treasury's
buyback program.
- Administers the SOMA securities lending program.
|
| Treasury Relationship Management and Office of Management
and Budget |
- Provides fiscal agent services in support of the
Treasury auction process.
- Effects the original issuance of Treasury securities
to the primary market.
- Provides analysis of auction participants' practices
and behavior in the U.S. primary market. and Provides
information and analysis to Treasury related to debt
management issues.
- Supports other operational aspects of the Treasury's
auction and issuance process through automation support
and support for Treasury's customers.
|
