Ben Bernanke said on Friday the Federal Reserve would act as needed to ease the impact of recent market turmoil¹ on the economy, in a speech widely interpreted as opening the door to possible interest rate cuts.

大多数分析师认为，上述讲话是一种信号，表明美联储实际上已确定将在9月18日召开的政策会议上下调利率，只不过伯南克没有在这方面做出任何承诺。他表示，市场动荡（对经济）的影响仍未确定。

Most analysts² viewed the remarks as a sign that the Fed is virtually certain to lower rates at its September 18 policy meeting, although the Fed chairman, who said the effects of market turmoil remained uncertain, did not make any commitment to do so.

这是自大约3周前流动性危机开始加剧以来，伯南克最为具体的讲话。他表示，央行不会仅仅为了给投资者纾困而降息。他表示：“美联储没有责任保护银行和投资者免受他们自己财务决定所造成后果的影响，这样做也不合适。”

In his most detailed³ remarks on the liquidity⁴ crisis since it began to intensify⁵ some three weeks ago, Mr Bernanke made it clear the central bank would not cut rates merely to bail⁶ out investors⁷. He said: “It is not the responsibility of the Federal Reserve – nor would it be appropriate – to protect lenders and investors from the consequences of their financial decisions.”

但他补充称，金融市场的走势“可能对市场之外的许多领域产生广泛的经济影响。” But he added that developments in financial markets “can have broad economic effects felt by many outside the markets”.

在怀俄明州杰克逊霍尔年会上，伯南克向各国央行行长表示，美联储将“在需要的时候采取行动，抑制金融市场混乱可能给更广泛的经济带来的负面影响。”

The Fed would “act as needed to limit the adverse⁸ effects on the broader economy that may arise from the disruptions in markets”, Mr Bernanke told central bankers at their annual retreat in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

伯南克发表上述言论之际，美国总统布什(George W. Bush)宣布了一些举措，通过扩充美国联邦住房管理局(Federal Housing Administration)和一些税收变动，帮助处于困境中的房屋所有者为抵押贷款进行再融资。

Mr Bernanke’s remarks came as President George W. Bush announced measures to help struggling homeowners refinance mortgages through an expansion of the Federal Housing Administration and tax changes.

但布什坚称，政府不会出手纾困，来解决次级抵押贷款危机。

But Mr Bush insisted there would be no government bail-out to solve the subprime mortgage crisis.