The Fed is expanding its March, August, September, and December meetings to two days “to allow additional time for discussion”, it said Friday.

The four meetings previously planned as one-day meetings will begin on the previously announced dates. The meetings will continue the following day and the Committee’s statement will be released around 14:15 ET on Wednesdays — a day later than originally planned.

The revised tentative schedule for the coming year has the FOMC set to meet: March 17-18, April 28-29, June 23-24, August 11-12, September 22-23, November 3-4, December 15-16, January 26-27, 2010.

IE