*Unless You Are Alan Greenspan

Tomorrow, the Federal Reserve, largely in the person of Alan Greenspan, will decide whether to leave the prime interest rate unchanged, or raise or lower it.

Imagine, for the next few minutes, that you (yes, you in that chair) are Greenspan. Put on a thick pair of unstylish glasses, if you have them, and run some Pomade de Einstein through your hair. To complete the effect, feel free to draw yourself a hot bath, and crawl in the tub with a nice cup of tea and a spreadsheet.

Your job, first and foremost, is to keep stable the value of the US dollar. Secondary and tertiary concerns are keeping the economy growing and the equities markets rising. Which they should (normal downward business cycles excepted) so long as you keep the dollar stable.

All in a day