Breaking News-RTRS-UPDATE 2-Fed hikes discount rate but not tightening policy

WASHINGTON, Feb 18 (Reuters) - The Federal Reserve said on Thursday it raised the interest rate it charges banks for emergency loans but insisted that its first rate move since December 2008 would not raise borrowing costs for consumers or companies.
The Fed cast its decision to raise the discount rate to 0.75 percent from 0.5 percent as a response to improved financial market conditions that warrant less of a helping hand from the U.S. central bank.