Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke said Sunday that low interest rates in the first half of the last decade were “appropriate” at the time and were not the main cause of the ensuing housing bubble.

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said Monday he’s confident the economy will continue to grow in 2010, but that his “best guess” is unemployment will stay higher than desired for the foreseeable future.

Stocks struggled higher Monday morning as investors mulled a stronger dollar as well as falling oil and gold prices, and geared up for a speech from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke.

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke got a rough going over from both his supporters and detractors at his Senate confirmation hearing Thursday.

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke got an endorsement from Senate Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd at the start of his confirmation hearing Thursday, even as Dodd called for a removal of some of the central banks current powers.