U.S. FEDERAL RESERVE (FED) POLICY-MAKERS BEGAN A MEETING MONDAY THAT ECONOMISTS EXPECT WILL PRODUCE A 15TH CONSECUTIVE INTEREST-RATE INCREASE AND PERHAPS A HINT THAT A 21-MONTH PERIOD OF CREDIT-TIGHTENING IS NEARLY FINISHED. THE CENTRAL BANK'S RATE-SETTING FEDERAL OPEN MARKET COMMITTEE BEGAN ITS TWO-DAY MEETING IN WASHINGTON, WITH AN ANNOUNCEMENT EXPECTED TUESDAY AFTERNOON, A FED OFFICIAL SAID. THE MEETING IS THE FIRST TO BE LED BY NEW FED CHAIRMAN BEN BERNANKE, A FORMER FED GOVERNOR AND CHAIR OF THE WHITE HOUSE COUNCIL OF ECONOMIC ADVISORS. BERNANKE FOLLOWS ALAN GREENSPAN, WHO LED 149 POLICY MEETINGS IN HIS 18-YEAR TENURE AS FED CHAIRMAN.
