Fischer sworn in as member of Fed board

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WASHINGTON (AP) — Stanley Fischer has been sworn in as a member of the Federal Reserve Board and will be able to vote at the central bank's next interest-rate meeting in June.

His nomination as the Fed's vice chairman is still awaiting Senate confirmation.

Fed Chair Janet Yellen on Wednesday administered the oath of office for Fischer, a former head of the Bank of Israel.

With his addition, the Fed board will remain at four members. Jeremy Stein had announced that he was leaving the Fed effective Wednesday to return to Harvard, where he is an economics professor.

At full strength, the Fed board has seven members. There are currently three vacancies. Obama has nominated former Treasury Undersecretary Lael Brainard for one of the vacancies but her nomination is awaiting Senate approval.