Reserves decrease if the Federal Reserve? a. raises the discount rate or auctions more credit. b. raises the discount rate but not if it auctions more credit. c. lowers the discount rate or auctions more credit. d. lowers the discount rate but not if it auctions more credit

D. lowers the discount rate but not if it auctions more credit

Explanation:

Discount rate adjustment and Federal Reserve's auction have the following effects on reserves.

Discount rate adjustment: a higher discount rate will encourage investment in the US economy, thus leading to increased reserves as investment inflows increase.

On the other hand, a lower discount rate encourages investment outflow into other jurisdictions with higher yields, thus reducing reserves.

Auction: auctioning more credit will result in the movement of investment flows into the Federal Reserve (an increase in reserves) as investors invest in auctions. Vice versa.

Therefore, a mix of lower discount rate and not auctioning more credit will result in lower reserves.