Fed Approves Rules Banning Members From Trading Stocks, Bonds

The Federal Reserve formally adopted new rules Friday restricting the central bank’s senior officials’ ability to trade stocks, bonds and currencies.

The rules, which were introduced in October 2021, prohibit senior Fed officials from purchasing individual stocks, sector funds, cryptocurrencies, bonds, agency securities, commodities, foreign currencies and derivative securities, the central bank said in a press release.

The new restrictions, which are set to take effect May 1, “aim to support public confidence in the impartiality and integrity of the [interest-rate-setting Federal Open Market] Committee’s work by guarding against even the appearance of any conflict of interest,” according to the press release.