Fed may extend Wall St lending

Jul. 8 - Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said the U.S. central bank may keep an emergency lending facility for big Wall Street firms open past year-end while it seeks to restore financial market stability.

Bernanke said, "We are currently monitoring developments in financial markets closely and considering several options, including extending the duration of our facilities for primary dealers beyond year-end, should the current unusual and exigent circumstances continue to prevail in dealer markets." Bernanke spoke in Arlington, Virginia, to a mortgage lending forum sponsored by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.