Once upon a time, activist investors like Carl Icahn would acquire a sizable stake in a company, something in the 10% range, and push for changes up to and including a saleofthe business.
Under Operation Twist, already under way when the Federal Reserve said it would embark upon purchases of mortgage-backed securities last month, the central bank uses proceeds from thesaleof short-term Treasury securities to buy long-term ones in its bid topush down long-term rates.