Discount Window Discounted?

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Discount Window Discounted? Steve Xu Treasury Economist Standard Chartered Bank Oct. 9, 1999

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Discount Window Discounted?. Steve Xu Treasury Economist Standard Chartered Bank Oct. 9, 1999. Agenda. Contagion effects insignificant. A permanent reduction in the risk premium. The objectives of the Discount Window. Suggested changes to the Base Rate. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Transcript of Discount Window Discounted?

Page 1: Discount Window Discounted?

Discount Window Discounted?

Steve Xu

Treasury Economist

Standard Chartered Bank

Oct. 9, 1999

Page 2: Discount Window Discounted?

Agenda

Contagion effects insignificant.

A permanent reduction in the risk premium.

The objectives of the Discount Window.

Suggested changes to the Base Rate.

Ultimate objectives of “7 wonders”.

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The Base Rate: An overly binding constraint

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Banks have little incentive to use the Discount Window

Borrowings at the Discount Window

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Licensed banks’ ability to pledge

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Exchange Fund paper held by licensedbanks(HKDbn)Exchange Fund paper(HKDbn)

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The Discount Window eliminates wild swings in short-term rates

The Base Rate dampens rate volatility.

The Base Rate acts as a ceiling for licensed banks to obtain liquidity.

Expanded base money and repeated borrowing at the Window avoids sharp rise in local interest rates.

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Waning contagion effects from the region

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HKD overnight rate

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Waning contagion effects (continued)

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Yen shock taken in stride

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The HKD de-coupled from the CNY

CNY 6mth implied yield

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De-coupling effect continues

CNY 12mth implied yield

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The HIBOR/LIBOR convergence

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1-mth LIBOR(RHS)

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Review the Base Rate

The HIBOR/LIBOR convergence is driven by market forces.

The perceived HK premium: 100bps over the Fed Fund Rates, or 50bps over?

The key issue is to avoid having an overly-binding constraint.

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The ultimate objectives of the “7 wonders”

Technical measures: rapid convergence between the HIBOR and the LIBOR a pleasant surprise.

The HKD is almost a perfect substitute for the USD in the inter-bank market.

Is the HKD a perfect substitute for the USD in the inter-bank market only?