U.S. Army Captain Michael Kelvington, commander of the Battle company, 1-508 Parachute Infantry battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, bows next to remains of Gulam Dostager, a member of Afghan Local Police who was killed in the blast of an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) during the joint Tor Janda (Black Flag in Pashtu) operation, in Zahri district of Kandahar province, southern Afghanistan May 25, 2012.  REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov  (AFGHANISTAN - Tags: MILITARY CIVIL UNREST CONFLICT TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)

Reuters Photojournalism

Our day's top images, in-depth photo essays and offbeat slices of life. See the best of Reuters photography.  See more | Photo caption 

Members of the U.S. Navy Blue Angels fly over the World Trade Center in lower Manhattan as part of the 25th annual Fleet Week celebration in New York, May 23, 2012.  REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz (UNITED STATES - Tags: MILITARY ANNIVERSARY TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)

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FACTBOX: Policymakers' reaction to Fed rate cut

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Wed Dec 17, 2008 2:59am EST

(Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Reserve slashed interest rates to a record low, bringing its target for the federal funds rate to a range of zero to 0.25 percent and vowed to use "all available tools" to turn back a deepening recession.

Following are international policymakers' comments on the Fed's unprecedented action.

NAOYUKI SHINOHARA, JAPANESE VICE FINANCE MINISTER FOR

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS:

"It was larger than the market has expected. It was a bold step."

JAPAN'S CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY TAKEO KAWAMURA:

"The abnormal rise in the yen could affect export industries and I hope that the BOJ will make a comprehensive consideration, including those factors to decide its monetary policy."

AMANDO TETANGCO, PHILIPPINE CENTRAL BANK GOVERNOR:

"The Fed move, to the extent it would be effective in spurring credit extensions by the private sector, would be positive for the rest of the economies in the world, including the Philippines."

"As the balance of risks to inflation point to the downside, we see greater leeway in monetary policy."

(Compiled by Tomasz Janowski, Asia Desk, Singapore)

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