Stock market assets figure prominently, both directly and in a variety of indirect ways in the U.S. personal balance sheet. Current period of turbulence in financial markets raises important questions about the appropriate response of monetary policymakers to extreme movements in asset markets...

In addition to its basic capital-raising function, equity started to be used in a variety of corporate operations. Companies enter into contracts linked to their own stock in the process of activities related to mergers and acquisitions, compensation or credit-capacity increases. There is...