Former Goldman Sachs chief executive Lloyd Blankfein said the Federal Reserve can take a pause hiking interest rates this week as the unfolding bank crisis will effectively tighten lending standards in the economy. Increased scrutiny following the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank will lead to banks extending less credit on deposits, Blankfein said in an interview on CNN’s “Fareed Zakaria GPS” broadcast Sunday. That’s while the market is projecting more than a 70% chance the Fed raises rates by 25 basis points when it meets this week, he said. “I personally think it will be OK to stop here,” said ... (full story)