In his final press conference before heading to Martha's Vineyard, an island off the coast of Massachusetts, for summer holidays, president Barack Obama was asked about his looming pick to succeed Ben Bernanke as Federal Reserve chairman. We'll try to parse his words like a Fed statement. On timing, Mr Obama repeated that he would make the decision in the autumn – which technically begins September 22. But some speculate that a choice could come sooner. Mr Obama might take the time over the holiday to ruminate – and perhaps inspired by the Atlantic ocean breeze – even make up his mind one way or the other. On names, Mr Obama confirmed that Janet Yellen, the vice-chair, and Larry Summers, the former Treasury secretary and a top White House economic adviser in 2009 and 2010, are the leading candidates, mentioning them by name and calling them "terrific people". Interestingly, he left out Don Kohn, a former Fed vice-chair who he had mentioned as a possibility in meetings with congressional Democrats last week. But he did say there were a "couple of other candidates" too. Continue reading » | 
