Fed announces March credit crisis plans

WASHINGTON (AP) - February 29, 2008 The central bank said Friday it will conduct two auctions in the coming month and will make $30 billion available to cash-strapped banks at each auction. One will be held on March 10, the second on March 24.

The central bank began the new auctions in December in hopes that the increased supply of cash would prompt banks to keep lending and combat the adverse effects from a severe credit squeeze.