Investors seek hints Greenspan may retire

WASHINGTON -- When Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan goes before Congress today to deliver the Fed's new economic forecast, investors will be listening for hints about his own future as well as the economy's.

The issue of whether Greenspan, now in his 15th year as Fed chairman, will leave the central bank before his term is over in June 2004 has become a hot subject on Wall Street.

The Blue Chip Economic Indicators forecasting newsletter even polled its 52 top economic forecasters this month for their picks of who should succeed Greenspan. The top choice: Treasury Undersecretary John Taylor, an academic economist who served on the Council of Economic Advisers for President Bush's father.

Those who believe the chairman may be contemplating an early exit point to the calendar. Greenspan, who will turn 76 next week, has already served in the Fed job longer than all but one of his predecessors.

With the economy apparently pulling out of recession, why not step down at the top of your game? these analysts ask.