Whither Money?

After a year of the tightest money since the 1920s, the U.S. last week experienced a slight easing in the general demand for funds. It was partly due to the depressing effects of the steel strike and industry's uncertainty about investing heavily in inventory before a settlement is reached. But the Federal Reserve Board also eased money to take care of the usual extra demands around Christmas by permitting member banks to count a percentage of their vault cash as reserves, thus in effect adding some $1.4 billion in lending power.

The slight easing had no effect on interest rates. The U.S. Treasury last week sold its 13-week bills at 4.5%, the highest point in history for its shortest-term borrowing, partly because only the week before it had drawn heavily on short-term funds with a $2 billion offer of 320-day bills at 4.86%. Bankers expect even greater pressure when a steel settlement is made and a rush for supplies and postponed expansion exerts new pressure on the money market.

But by that time the big seasonal demand will have ended too. Even more important, the Treasury is planning a sharp reduction in its issues in the first half of 1960, may thus help to ease credit or at least prevent it from becoming tighter. The Federal Reserve would like to keep its present discount rate of 4% in effect even after a settlement, looks for interest rates to stay steady. Bankers do not expect a hike in the prime rate of 5% for some time, think that if it comes at all, it will be small.

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