The Federal Reserve on Tuesday said it would turn over $92.0 billion in profits to the U.S. Treasury in 2016, down from the $97.7 billion the central bank's 12 regional banks paid back to the U.S. government in the previous year. The Fed earns interest on government bonds that it holds as well as from securities tied to mortgage-finance giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Through the purchase of such investments, the central bank can help push down borrowing costs in other sectors of the economy. It uses a share of its earnings to cover operating expenses, the cost of printing currency and to help fund the Consumer ... (full story)