Federal Reserve Officials Uneasy Over Stimulus

Minutes reveal concern over costs and risks

Federal Reserve policymakers late last month expressed explicit and detailed squeamishness over their monetary stimulus, which might be scaled back sooner than the Fed's own guidance suggests, according to minutes released Wednesday.

Policymakers generally agreed last month that the central bank's $85 billion in monthly bond purchases, or quantitative easing, have eased financial conditions and lifted the economy.

"However, many participants also expressed some concerns about potential costs and risks arising from further asset purchases," said the minutes from their Jan. 29-30 meeting.