QE2

The second program of quantitative easing was first mentioned in a speech given by Federal Reserve Chairman Bernanke in Jackson Hole in August 2010. The Fed officially announced the program on November 3, 2010. The Fed stated that it will purchase $600 billion of longer-term Treasury securities by the end of 2nd quarter of 2011, a pace of about $75 billion per month in order to promote a stronger pace of economic recovery in the United States. The Fed would also use the income from its portfolio of securities for additional purchases bring the total purchases close to $800 billion. The purchases are focused in the 5-10 year maturities.