The Fed just bought $2 billion Treasury securities to hold indefinitely. This infusion of funds is probably designed to offset the declining prices in today's stock and bond markets...courtesy of S&P's downgrade for the outlook for US Treasury securities.

"Standard & Poor’s put a 'negative' outlook on the AAA credit rating of the U.S., citing a 'material risk' the nation’s leaders will fail to deal with rising budget deficits and debt."