What does the Federal Reserve's Open Market operations involve?

The Federal Reserve's Open Market operations specifically refer to the buying and selling of government securities in the open market. This process is a key tool used by the Federal Reserve to influence the money supply and interest rates in the economy. When the Fed purchases government securities, it injects liquidity into the banking system, encouraging banks to lend more, which can stimulate economic activity. Conversely, when it sells government securities, it withdraws liquidity from the system, which can help control inflation and stabilize the economy. This mechanism is crucial for implementing monetary policy effectively, as it directly impacts the availability of money and the cost of borrowing. The other options describe different functions that the Federal Reserve or other government bodies may perform, but they do not reflect the specific function of Open Market operations.