The discount rate and the federal funds rate The discount rate is the interest rate on loans that the Federal Reserve makes to banks. Banks occasionally borrow from the Federal Reserve when they find themselves short on reserves. A lower discount rate increasesbanks' incentives to borrow reserves from the Federal Reserve, thereby increasingthe quantity of reserves in the banking system and causing the money supply to rise The federal funds rate is the interest rate that banks charge one another for short-term (typically overnight) loans. When the Federal Reserve uses open-market operations to sell government bonds, the quantity of reserves in the banking system decreases banks' need to borrow from each other rises ▼ , and the federal funds rate increases ▼

In its 2016 annual report, caterpillar inc. reported the following (in millions): 2016 2015 sales $38,537 $47,011 cost of goods sold 28,309 33,546 as a percentage of sales, did caterpillar's gross profit increase or decrease during 2016? select one: a. gross profit increased from 26.8% to 28.6% b. gross profit decreased from 28.6% to 26.5% c. gross profit increased from 71.4% to 73.2% d. gross profit decreased from 73.2% to 71.4% e. there is not enough information to answer the question.

What is the second step in communication planning? determine the purpose of the message outline the communication for delivery determine the best channel of communication clarify objectives identify the audience

When paul o’neill joined alcoa as ceo, he set a , that there would be zero workplace accidents. a lot of people in the organization thought this was impossible given how dangerous some aluminum-manufacturing jobs are, but alcoa’s safety record improved tremendously. as the board of governors of the american red cross considers planning, one option is to make strategic plans and then direct managers to align tactical and operational plans accordingly. another option is to have planning specialists managers across the organization make their own plans. why might this organization’s executives opt for the latter approach? check all that apply. (a) the environment is a dynamic one, and department and frontline managers can come up with more responsive plans than can central leadership. (b)resources will be better coordinated across the organization in support of the overall strategy.(c) senior leadership will have more control over the organization’s direction. (d)when managers come up with their own plans, they are likely to be more committed to following through on them.