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We like to think that when we deposit a dollar at the bank, it goes into a big vault and we can pull out that same dollar at any time. But that¿s not how the U.S. banking system works. Banks take that money and invest it to make money themselves, so cash gets spread around. This, naturally, leads to a big risk: What happens if those investments go sour? Well, you¿d be out of luck. You can¿t get your dollar back.
The Federal Reserve doesn¿t like that scenario, so it prohibits banks from putting all the cash it has on deposit on the line. In fact, the Fed forces banks to keep a portion of their assets at the Federal Reserve itself, to make sure that some of your assets won¿t get squandered if the bank¿s bets go south. These are called ¿reserves,¿ (hence, Federal Reserve. Got it? Good), and usually amount to 10% of the total cash kept in checking accounts.
These reserves are never exactly 10%, and banks like to keep a little extra in reserve ¿ not, as you might think, to make you more comfortable that they¿re in good financial shape, but rather so they can take that excess and lend it to other banks and make money off it. (They¿re banks, they can¿t help themselves.) The rate at which they make these loans is called the Federal Funds rate, which is set by the Federal Reserve¿s Federal Open Market Committee.
When you hear people chattering about how the Fed cut or hiked interest rates, this is what they¿re talking about: the interest rate banks can charge for lending money from their reserves. This begs the question: If these are essentially loans between banks, why is the Fed Funds rate so important for the rest of the economy?
Well, simply put, because loans make the financial world go round. Bank A lends Bank B $10,000 at a Fed Funds rate of 5%. Bank B then lends out $10,000 to a small business at 7%. The small business then takes that money and expands the business and hires new workers. Now someone is employed, Bank B has made interest off the loan, and Bank A is the richer for making it all happen. It¿s perhaps overly simplistic, but you get the idea. When you want the economy to thrive, you make lending cheaper.
Of course, sometimes you don¿t want the economy to thrive. In fact, you might want it to cool down, mostly to avoid money flooding the system and causing inflation. In that case, the Fed raises interest rates, making it difficult to lend or borrow.
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Thursday, June 12, 2008
Niko Resources Completes Investment in Vast Exploration Inc.
Comtex
CALGARY, ALBERTA, Jun 12, 2008 (Marketwire via COMTEX) ----NIKO RESOURCES LTD. (TSX:NKO) is pleased to announce that it has acquired approximately 19% of the issued and outstanding common shares of Vast Exploration Inc. (TSX VENTURE:VST) ("Vast") for approximately $11,499,600 as part of Vast's recently completed $35 million bought-deal financing. Niko acquired 19,166,000 Units of Vast at $0.60 per unit. Each Unit consisted of one Vast share and one half of one share purchase warrant that is exercisable at a price of $0.90 per warrant until June 12, 2010. Niko has acquired the securities under this offering for investment purposes only and may acquire additional securities or dispose of its beneficial ownership, control or direction over securities through market transactions, private placements, treasury issuances or otherwise as circumstances or market conditions warrant or arise. Niko is now the single largest shareholder of Vast.
A copy of the early warning report filed in connection with this investment in Vast can be obtained from the Vast profile at www.sedar.com or by contacting Murray Hesje at (403) 262-1020.
June 12, 2008
Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements. Specifically, this press release contains forward-looking statements relating to management's approach to operations, estimates of future sales, production and deliveries, business plans for drilling and development, estimated amounts and timing of capital expenditures, anticipated operating costs, royalty rates, cash flows, transportation plans and capacity, anticipated access to infrastructure or other expectations, beliefs, plans, goals, objectives, assumptions and statements about future events or performance. The reader is cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable by Niko at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect. Actual results achieved during the forecast period will vary from the information provided herein as a result of numerous known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors. Such factors include, but are not limited to: general economic, market and business conditions; industry capacity; competitive action by other companies; fluctuations in oil and gas prices; the results of exploration and development drilling and related activities; the uncertainty of estimates and projections relating to productions, costs and expenses; uncertainties as to the availability and cost of financing; fluctuations in currency exchange rates; the imprecision in reserve estimates; risks associated with oil and gas operations, such as operational risks in exploring for, developing and producing crude oil and natural gas; risks and uncertainties involving geology of oil and gas deposits; the weather in the Company's area of operations; the ability of suppliers to meet commitments; changes in environmental and other regulations; actions by governmental authorities including changes in laws and increases in taxes; decisions or approvals of administrative tribunals; risks in conducting foreign operations (for example, political and fiscal instability or the possibility of civil unrest or military action in countries such as India and Bangladesh); the effect of acts of, or actions against international terrorism; and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of Niko. There is no representation by Niko that the actual results achieved during the forecast period will be the same in whole or in part as those forecast.
SOURCE: Niko Resources Ltd.
Niko Resources Ltd. Edward S. Sampson Chairman of the Board, President & CEO (403) 262-1020 Niko Resources Ltd. Murray Hesje VP Finance & CFO (403) 262-1020 Website: www.nikoresources.com
Copyright (C) 2008 Marketwire. All rights reserved.
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