Fed cuts discount rate

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- The Federal Reserve, reacting to concerns about the subprime lending crisis and the volatility in the financial markets that have resulted from it, announced Friday that it is cutting its so-called discount rate by a half percentage point, to 5.75 percent.

The central bank did not change its more closely watched, federal funds rate, which affects rates that consumers pay on various types of loans. That rate remains at 5.25 percent.

In a statement, the Fed said that it took the move on loans made directly from any Federal Reserve bank to "promote the restoration of orderly conditions in financial markets."

In another statement, the central bank indicated that "financial market conditions have deteriorated, and tighter credit conditions and increased uncertainty have the potential to restrain economic growth going forward."

The Fed added that "although recent data suggest that the economy has continued to expand at a moderate pace, the Federal Open Market Committee judges that the downside risks to growth have increased appreciably" and that the Fed was prepared to take more action if necessary.