White House says Janet Yellen front-runner for Fed chair

NBC News: WASHINGTON — A White House official said on Wednesday that Federal Reserve Vice Chair Janet Yellen was front-runner for the top job at the U.S. central bank when Ben Bernanke steps down, a shift in strategy after former economic adviser Lawrence Summers withdrew from consideration.

With the end of Bernanke's term looming in January and a compressed congressional calendar through the end of the year, President Barack Obama is expected to move forward quickly with a nomination. White House spokesman Jay Carney said on Monday the announcement could come as soon as next week.

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