Post on 28-Nov-2014
description
Credit Policy, Banks and The State of the UK Economy
A2 Macro – May 2013
Credit Policy – An Important Lever
• Conventional monetary policy economics focuses on the effects of– Changes in market interest rates for borrowers and savers– Changes in the base supply of money in the economy– Changes in the external value of a country’s exchange rate
• Credit policy is becoming hugely important in many countries – affecting growth / recovery– Especially policies that impact on credit supply– Policies on reforming the banking system
Interest Rates and Economic GrowthDeep cuts made in interest rates to avoid a depression and support a recovery in aggregate demand – but growth has remained weak / fragile
Interest rates and investment
Capital spending by businesses has failed to respond to expansionary monetary policy
Bank Lending
This chart is telling – it shows a dramatic drop in the annual rate of growth of commercial bank lending to businesses – the credit squeeze has had a big impact on the availability of finance
EvaluationIs the drop in lending mainly due to a squeeze on credit supply or a drop in demand for loans?
Interest Rates on Loans
There has been a growing gap between the cost of unsecured loans and over drafts and the official policy interest rate set by the Bank of England
Limited Credit Supply
• Banks have lowered their willingness to take risks– Rise in non-performing loans (bad
debts) which have contributed to heavy losses
– Total loan write-offs were over £11bn in 2012
– Higher deposits and tougher checks to get a mortgage
• New (tougher) global rules (known as Basel III) on the amount of capital and liquidity that banks must hold
Key Point:The credit crunch has led to a contraction in the supply of fresh loans to businesses and consumers
Overcoming Credit Crunch 2.0
• Funding for Lending Scheme - August 2012• A subsidy for banks who lend to businesses• Banks can apply to get cheaper funds from the Bank of England
than they would if they went to the wholesale money market to get their funds for future loans
• From 2014 banks will be able to draw down £5 of cheap loans from the Bank of England for every £1 in net new lending to SMEs (small and medium sized enterprises)
• Green Investment Bank (joint venture with Qatar)• British Business Bank set by Vince Cable• Measures to encourage more competition in the
retail banking industry
Business Finance – Old....
Traditional Bank Finance• Commercial bank loans• Overdraft facilities• Credit card finance
especially for SMEs• Equity raised through stock
market
SMEs have built up their savings deposits in banks but have found it much tougher to get the loans they want .... New finance streams needed
Business Finance..... And New
Growing Financial Options• Corporate Bond Market
including retail bonds• Peer to peer funding
– Funding Circle– Zopa– Crowd Cube
• New banks– Aldermore– Virgin Money– Possible new regional banks
• Invoice discounting facility
Business Finance..... And New
Growing Financial Options• Corporate Bond Market
including retail bonds• Peer to peer funding
– Funding Circle– Zopa– Crowd Cube
• New banks– Aldermore– Virgin Money– Possible new regional banks
• Invoice discounting facility
Retail Bonds
Tesco raised £125m in February with an eight-year bond paying 5.2% a year
John Lewis raised £50m in April through a Partnership bond, though this was reserved for its customers and staff.
Hotel Chocolat raised £4m by selling the bond to members of its Chocolate Tasting Club, who don't get interest but instead receive a box of chocolate each month
Peer to Peer FundingConventional bank lending to business in the UK continues to decline.
Peer to Peer FundingWhere people lend directly to others via online exchanges
Keep up-to-date with business stories, resources, quizzes and worksheets for your business
course. Click the logo!