On Wed 18th of December, the America’s Central Bank, The US Federal Reserve started to reduce the QE programme.
[http://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/press/monetary/20131218a.htm]
Currently The Fed is buying $85 Billion = £52 Billion = £52,000 million a MONTH in US Treasury Bonds (T-Bonds) to fight unemployment, and stabilise the US economy.
There have been many consequences of Quantative Easing, by driving interest rates down, financial asset prices have risen.
When money is earning 0.5% on deposit, perhaps the growth in the stockmarket has been driven by money moving from cash to buy shares.
Perhaps the rise in house prices is down to the fact, one may get a better return by putting money into property.
Another less reported consequence is the effect on high quality companies. They have been given the ability to borrow (by issuing bonds) at very low interest rates to fund their day to day business operations.
Verizon was able to borrow $49 Billion = £30 Billion to fund the purchase of Vodafone’s 45% stake in Verizon Wireless. They raised the cash via issuing bonds.
Exxon Mobile [http://www.exxonmobil.com/] have been able to borrow billions at interest rates of less that 2%. This of course is a triple AAA rated company, but with new cash from bond issues at very low interest rates, it has been able to lock in cash to fund the business.
On the horizon, interest rates are going to rise, so during the period of low interest rates, corporates and individuals have been able to lock in low rates and secure a well-funded future.