Fed report shows losses on Bear Stearns, AIG holdings

The U.S. Federal Reserve drew back the curtain on its emergency repairs to the financial system on Wednesday, showing $5.3 billion in losses on assets taken over from firms it bailed out in 2008.

In a report on its $2.1 trillion balance sheet, the Fed also said it earned $1.2 billion from loan programs and $4.6 billion in interest on its holdings of Treasury and other securities in the first three months of the year.

The Fed is making more information available about its finances, and its rescues of investment bank Bear Stearns and insurer American International Group (AIG.N) in order to show the public it is using its resources wisely, a senior Fed official said, speaking to reporters on condition of anonymity.

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It will issue a monthly report on its balance sheet two weeks after the last Wednesday of every month, another Fed official said during a briefing.

By offering a more detailed glimpse of its holdings, the Fed also hopes to address congressional concerns that it lacks accountability, the senior Fed official said.

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