Global banks act to strengthen dollar swap lines (by Greg Robb)
WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- Global central banks announced Wednesday that they are acting to strengthen the existing swap lines that allow them to provide dollars to domestic banks in an effort to ease financial market tension. Under the new arrangements, the Federal Reserve has lowered the cost of the swap lines. The arrangments have also been extended until 2013. The central banks also agreed to set up bilateral swap lines so that all currencies can be made available if needed.