珍妮特·耶倫即將成為首位領導美國央行的女性，她在美聯儲工作已經十多年，可能是最有資格管理該機構的人。
總統奧巴馬稱她既堅強又高效。
“她很早就對房市泡沫、金融機構過度發展和大衰退的風險作出警告，她並不能預測未來，但她對市場和經濟工作有著很深的瞭解，不僅理論上如此，而且在實際中也如此。”
這位67歲的經濟學家將接管美國央行，而主席本·伯南克將於一月份離職。她感謝總統對自己的信任，承諾執行美聯儲的命令。
“如果參議院批准，我承諾盡自己的最大努力不負重托，兌現國會向美聯儲期望的重大責任，促進最大程度的就業、物價穩定和強大而穩定的金融體系。”
總統還高度讚揚了伯南克的堅定領導，儘管這幾十年裡發生了最嚴重的金融危機。
“不僅對美國，而且對整個世界，他都一直是穩定的力量。”
在伯南克的領導下，美聯儲通過每月850億美元的債券購買項目，削減了短期利率到接近零，長期利率維持在最低水準。
金融市場歡迎耶倫被提名，稱這是穩定的標誌。
央行前官員約瑟夫·加尼翁稱耶倫可能會繼續實施伯南克的政策。
“我覺得不會發生大變化，我認為他們兩人在鼓勵措施方面都很學院派，都是希望盡可能在團隊內達成一致，所以我想舊政策將會繼續。”
分析家希望民主黨控制的參議院能得到溫和共和黨的幫助來批准此事，但考慮到國會中尖銳的黨派對立，經濟學家們稱耶倫面臨的最大挑戰還在前面。
President Barack Obama has named Federal Reserve Vice Chairman Janet Yellen to head the U.S. central bank after Ben Bernanke steps down at the end of January. The US senate still has to confirm Yellen, but analysts believe she’s a safe choice to steer US monetary policy in troubled economic times.
She’s poised to become the first woman to head the U.S. central bank. And with more than a decade at the Federal Reserve, Janet Yellen may be one of the most qualified to run it.
President Obama described her as tough and effective.
“She sounded the alarm early about the housing bubble, about excesses in the financial sector and about the risks of a major recession. She doesn’t have a crystal ball but what she does have is a keen understanding about how markets and the economy work not just in theory but also in the real world," said President Obama.
The 67-year-old economist is being tapped to take the reins of the U.S. central bank when Chairman Ben Bernanke steps down in January. She thanked the president for his trust in her and vowed to preserve the Federal Reserve’s mandate.
“If confirmed by the Senate, I pledge to do my utmost to keep that trust and meet the great responsibilities that Congress has entrusted to the Federal Reserve, to promote maximum employment, stable prices and a strong and stable financial system," said Yellen.
The president also heaped praise on Bernanke for providing a steady hand - through the worst financial crisis in decades.
“He has truly been a stabilizing force not just for our country but for the rest of the world," said Obama.
Under Bernanke’s leadership, the Fed cut short term interest rates to near zero and has kept long term rates at record lows with an $85 billion a month bond buying program.
Financial markets welcomed the Yellen nomination as a nod to continuity.
Former central bank official Joseph Gagnon says Yellen is likely to continue Bernanke’s policies.
“I don’t see big changes. I think they’re both rather collegial in terms of encouraging, trying to get consensus within a group as much as possible, so I think that will continue," said Gagnon.
Analysts expect an easy confirmation by the Democratic controlled Senate with help from moderate Republicans. But given the sharp partisan divide in Congress, economists say Yellen’s biggest challenges are yet to come.
