-
Barack Obama is sworn in as the 44th president of the United States of America - Source: Reuters -
Related
Barack Obama has taken office amid a deep economic downturn, a trillion-dollar federal deficit and a gasping bank sector, and the first African-American to become US president vowed to meet the challenges.
His aides promised to go to work immediately, armed with the authority to spend the second half of the $US700 billion financial rescue plan and a proposed stimulus package of $US550 billion in spending and $US275 billion in tax cuts.
Stock prices extended losses while Obama spoke as investors were disappointed they did not hear more specifics regarding his promises for bold and swift action.
"People were looking for something, new plans, new hopes," said Joe Saluzzi, co-manager of trading at Themis Trading in Chatam, New Jersey. "They didn't hear something new."
Obama said the country understood it was in the midst of crisis, mentioning war, a sagging confidence and an economy that was "badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some."
"Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America - they will be met," he said upon taking the oath.
Obama also hinted at greater regulation, saying "this crisis has reminded us that without a watchful eye, the market can spin out of control."
The new president was riding a wave: A CBS News/New York Times poll showed 79% of Americans are optimistic about the next four years.
But that did not help the Dow, which was down more than 2% in early afternoon trade, extending the 2009 slump to nearly 8%.
Shares in major US banks were down double digits after State
Street Corp, the world's biggest institutional asset manager,
reported billions of dollars of unrealised losses in its commercial
paper programme and investment portfolio.
State Street stock plummeted 50% while Citigroup, Bank of America,
JPMorgan Chase & Co and and Wells Fargo were all battered.
"It's very uplifting (Obama's inauguration) but I'm not sure it's sufficient. I don't really see this influencing medium-term investment decisions," said Marc Chandler, head of global currency strategy at Brown Brothers Harriman.
"There still is a danger that we are doing too little rather than too much," he said in reference to the stimulus and financial rescue plans.
