View original document

The full text on this page is automatically extracted from the file linked above and may contain errors and inconsistencies.

Prefatory Note

The attached document represents the most complete and accurate version
available based on original copies culled from the files of the FOMC Secretariat at the
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. This electronic document was
created through a comprehensive digitization process which included identifying the bestpreserved paper copies, scanning those copies, 1 and then making the scanned versions
text-searchable. 2 Though a stringent quality assurance process was employed, some
imperfections may remain.
Please note that this document may contain occasional gaps in the text. These
gaps are the result of a redaction process that removed information obtained on a
confidential basis. All redacted passages are exempt from disclosure under applicable
provisions of the Freedom of Information Act.

1

In some cases, original copies needed to be photocopied before being scanned into electronic format. All
scanned images were deskewed (to remove the effects of printer- and scanner-introduced tilting) and lightly
cleaned (to remove dark spots caused by staple holes, hole punches, and other blemishes caused after initial
printing).
2
A two-step process was used. An advanced optimal character recognition computer program (OCR) first
created electronic text from the document image. Where the OCR results were inconclusive, staff checked
and corrected the text as necessary. Please note that the numbers and text in charts and tables were not
reliably recognized by the OCR process and were not checked or corrected by staff.

August 16,

Strictly Confidential (FR)

1985

Class I FOMC

MONETARY POLICY ALTERNATIVES

Prepared for the Federal Open Market Committee
By the staff

Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System

STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL (FR)
CLASS I -

FOMC

August 16,

1985

MONETARY POLICY ALTERNATIVES

Recent Developments

(1)

M1 increased at an annual rate of about 9 percent in July,

down considerably from the pace of May and June but still

well above the

Committee's target path of 5 to 6 percent for the June-to-September period.
Moreover,

data for early August suggest stronger growth this

month.

The

recent strength of M1 has reflected rapid growth in other checkable
deposits (OCDs) together with the absence so far of any unwinding of the
extraordinary surge in demand deposit growth of late spring.
(2)

The extent of the bulge in M1 since May appears to have

no clear single explanation.

With econometric models underpredicting M1

growth in recent months, one might argue that there has been an upward
demand shift for narrow money, but it
a shift to have occurred.

is difficult to find reasons for such

According to surveys, consumer confidence

remains generally high, so that from that perspective precautionary
demands for cash are unlikely to have increased significantly.

Nonethe-

less, the recent strength in OCDs may be an aspect of a general shift
toward more liquid deposit forms affecting the total of M1 and the
structure of M2 at a time when the opportunity cost of holding liquid
deposits is on the low side of recent experience.

For instance, OCDs,

savings deposits, and MMDAs have all shown considerable strength recently,
while small time deposits have been weakening-indeed the total outstanding
of such deposits has been declining since midyear.
(3) With regard to the demand deposit bulge, examination of
individual bank data indicates that the increase in such deposits since

-2-

KEY MONETARY AGGREGATES
(Seasonally adjusted annual rates of growth)
QIV
to July

May
n

June

13.8

19.8

8.6

13.7

8.6

7.7

10.7

4.2

Dcmestic nonfinancial debt

12.0

11.6

12.3

12.8

Bank credit

13.3

9.3

9.5

10.0

33.0

10.7

17.0

16.0

July
i

m

Money and Credit Aggregates

Reserve Measures

13.51

2

Nonborrowed reserves 3

7.9

Total reserves

18.1

24.8

12.3

Monetary base

10.6

13.5

6.8

Memo:

(Millions of dollars)

Adjustment and seasonal
borrowing total

800

Excluding special
situation borrowing
Excess reserves

NOTE:

540

600

506

804

905

859

Monthly reserve measures, including excess reserves and borrowing,
are calculated by prorating averages for 2-week reserve maintenance periods
that overlap months.

1. Growth from the second quarter to July. Growth from QIV to July is 11.4
percent.
2. Growth rates of reserve measures are adjusted to remove the effects of discontinuities resulting from phased changes in reserve ratios under the Monetary
Control Act.
3. Includes "other extended credit" from the Federal Reserve, but not special
situation borrowing by thrifts that was part of adjustment plus seasonal
borrowing until it was entirely reclassified as extended credit in mid-June.

-3the middle of the second quarter has been distributed roughly proportionately
by size class of banks, though weighted a bit toward large banks.

Very

recent contacts with selected banks experiencing large demand deposit
increases identified no consistent set of special factors to account for
the unusual strength over recent months.

The decline in interest rates was

seen to be raising compensating balances of businesses, but by no more than
might normally have been expected; banks generally reported no change
in corporate cash management practices; a number indicated the increase in
deposits may have simply reflected reduced incentives to manage cash carefully as interest rates declined.

Finally, it should be noted that the

demand deposit ownership survey sample indicated a disproportionate share
of the increase in gross demand deposits from March to June in household
demand accounts, perhaps reflecting the unusual pattern of tax refunds,
with only about one quarter of the rise in deposits of financial and nonfinancial businesses.
(4)

The broader aggregates also decelerated in July.

Nonetheless,

M2 growth at an 8-1/2 percent annual rate was somewhat above the Committee's
7-1/2 percent path for June to September, and left this aggregate a bit
above the upper bound of its range for the year.

Growth of the nontrans-

actions component of M2, although slowing from June, remained strong as
rapid growth in MMDAs and savings accounts offset the decline in small time
deposits.

M3 expanded at only a 4-1/4 percent annual rate in July, well

below its 3-month objective of 7-1/2 percent.
still

With core deposit growth

fairly robust and Treasury deposits rising while asset growth at

depository institutions remained moderate, CDs and other managed liabilities in M3 fell.
(5)

Growth in total domestic nonfinancial debt is estimated to

have continued at roughly a 12 percent annual rate.

Federal borrowing

-4surged and state and local governments, responding to the decline in interest
rates since late winter, continued to issue large volumes of bonds in
anticipation of refundings.

There was no net borrowing from banks and the

commercial paper market by nonfinancial businesses last month, while bond
issuance, although quite strong, receded somewhat from the June pace when
it had been boosted by several exceptionally large offerings to retire
equity.

In the household sector, consumer credit growth appears to have

slowed in recent months, but mortgage borrowing seems to have continued at
around its spring pace.
(5)

In July, total reserves and the monetary base decelerated

to annual growth rates of around 12-1/4 and 6-3/4 percent, respectively,
as expansion of transactions deposits and currency slowed from the rapid
May-June pace.

Nonborrowed reserves (including extended credit) grew

at a 10-3/4 percent pace in July. 1

The nonborrowed reserve path over the

first two complete maintenance periods after the last FOMC meeting was constructed assuming $350 million of adjustment plus seasonal borrowing.

With

M1 and M2 running above the Committee's short-run paths, against a background
of a weaker dollar and moderate strength in economic activity, desk operations
in the maintenance period just completed were conducted with a view to
borrowing in a $350 to $450 million range.

Borrowing averaged about $605

million in the first two maintenance periods as demands for excess reserves
proved unusually strong; 2

in the most recent complete maintenance period,

borrowing averaged about $480 million.
1.

The much larger rise in June reflected in part the reclassification, as
extended credit, of borrowing by financial institutions-principally
thrifts-in special situations.

2. The allowance for excess reserves used in drawing the reserve path
was raised from $650 to $700 million over the intermeeting period, to
reflect the generally higher average levels of excess reserves that
have come to prevail in recent months.

-5(6) Federal funds have traded generally in a range around
7-3/4 percent since the last FOMC meeting, with the average in the most
recent statement period close to 7-7/8 percent.

Other short-term market

rates are up about 20 to 45 basis points over the intermeeting period,
reflecting mainly a reassessment of the likelihood of near-term easing by
the Federal Reserve.

Yield spreads between short-term private and Treasury

securities have widened slightly over the past couple of weeks, reflecting
adverse news about the earnings of some financial institutions; these
spreads remain well below the highs of mid-1984, though somewhat above the
very low levels reached early in 1985.

Intermediate- and long-term Treasury

yields, which have risen by about 30 to 40 basis points, were also affected
by some disappointment in the budget process and the decline in the dollar
on exchange markets.
than Treasury yields.

Corporate bond yields have moved up a little more
The dollar has depreciated by about 4-3/4 percent,

net, on a weighted average basis over the intermeeting period, even though
yield spreads favoring foreign currencies have narrowed as U.S. interest
rates have risen some and foreign rates have declined.

-6-

Policy alternatives
(7)

It seems unlikely, given recent developments, that the

Committee's June-to-September objective of 5 to 6 percent growth (annual

rate) for M1 can be attained short of a very sharp rise in the federal
funds rate to perhaps the 10 to 11 percent area.

Assuming some slight

decrease in M1 in the second half of August, it would take about a 5
percent annual rate of decline in September for growth over the three
months to reach 6 percent.

It is likely, however, that such a rise in

the funds rate would need to be reversed later in the year to sustain
economic activity, consistent with growth of M1 around the upper limit
of its range.

The alternatives presented below are based on less extreme

movements in money and interest rates.

Of the alternatives, B and C are

most consistent with moving near to or somewhat below the upper end of the
FOMC's 3 to 8 percent long-run range for M1 by the fourth quarter, although
the tighter alternative C would provide more assurance.

Alternative A

would very probably involve growth for the second half above the Committee's M1 target.

(More detailed data are shown in the following

tables and charts).
Alt. A

Alt. B

Alt. C

Growth from June to
September
M1

10

9

8

M2

9-1/4

8-1/2

7-3/4

M3

7

6-1/4

5-3/4

6 to 10

7 to 11

Associated federal
funds rate range

5 to 9

Alternative Levels and Growth Rates for Key Monetary Aggregates

Alt. A

1985--April
May
June
July
August
September

Alt. B

Alt. C

Alt. A

Alt. B

Alt. C

Alt. A

Alt. B

Alt. C

575.0
581.6
591.2

575.0
581.6
591.2

575.0
581.6
591.2

2427.3
2444.7
2472.6

2427.3
2444.7
2472.6

2427.3
2444.7
2472.6

3056.2
3075.9
3103.3

3056.2

3056.2
3075.9
3103.3

595.7

595.7

602.8
606.1

602.6
604.6

595.7
602.4
603.1

2490.3
2511.3
2529.3

2490.3
2510.9
2524.7

2490.3
2510.5
2520.1

3114.1
3132.6
3156.7

3114.1
3132.1
3151.9

3075.9

3103.3

3114.1

3131.6
3147.1

Growth Rates
Monthly
6.1
13.8

6.1
13.8

-1.0

8.6

-1.0
8.6

-1.0
8.6

19.8

19.8

19.8

13.7

13.7

13.7

9.1
14.3
6.6

9.1
13.9
4.0

9.1
13.5
1.4

8.6
10.1
8.6

8.6
9.9
6.6

8.6
9.7
4.6

10.6

10.6
10.2

12.0

12.0

10.2

13.0

July
August
September

6.1
13.8

10.6
10.2

1985--April
May
June

12.6

12.2

10.1

12.0
5.3
9.6

13.5

13.5

13.5

9.2

9.2

12.1

11.3

10.6

9.4

9.2

10.1

9.1
9.0

8.1
7.5

9.2
9.4

0.2
7.7
10.7

4.2
7.1
9.2

0.2
7.7
10.7

0.2
7.7
10.7

4.2
6.9
7.6

4.2
6.7
5.9

10.7
5.2
7.0

10.7

5.2
7.3

9.2

7.8

7.8

7.8

8.9

8.0

7.8

7.6

7.7
7.2

6.9
8.2

6.3
7.3

Growth Rates
1985--01
02
03
Long-run
period
Long-run
period

base
to July 851
base
to Sept. 851

1985 June to Sept.
1985 July to Sept.

1.

10.5

5.3

5.3
9.9

10.7

5.2
6.8

The long-run base period is the second quarter of 1985 for M1 and the fourth quarter of 1984 for M2 and M3.

Chart 1

ACTUAL AND TARGETED M1
Billions of dollars

1 630

-- 620
-

ACTUAL LEVEL

* SHORT RUN ALTERNATIVES
-- 610

-1 600

3

-

590

-- 580

-- 570

-- 560

-

I

O

N
1984

I

I

D

I

J

I

F

I

M

I

A

540

I

M

550

J
1985

J

A

S

N

D

Chart 2

ACTUAL AND TARGETED M2
Billions of dollars

1 2650

-12600
-

ACTUAL LEVEL

SHORT RUN ALTERNATIVES

*

-42550

:-

B

2500

*

-1 2450

.*

--1 2400

-1 2350
*

-1 2300

I

0

N
1984

I

D

I
I

I

J

F

I

I

M

I

I

I

A

I

M

I

I

I

J

I

J

1985

I

I

I

1,
I

A

S

2250

I

,

0

N

D

Chart 3

ACTUAL AND TARGETED M3
Billions of dollars

1 3300

-

ACTUAL LEVEL
*

-- 3200

SHORT RUN ALTERNATIVES

-- 3100
*
00

0«

3000

-- 2900

I

S

N
1984

D

i
II

I
J

SI

F

I

M

I

I

I

I

I

A

M

I

J
1985

I

J

I

I

A

S

I

0

2800

I

N

D

Chart 4

ACTUAL AND TARGETED DEBT
Billions of dollars

16800

-

ACTUAL LEVEL

-- 6600

-

6400

6200

-- 6000

H 5800

I

S

N
1984

I

SI

I

D

J

F

1I
I

M

I
II

II
A

M

I

J
J
1985

I
I

I
I
~I I
I
I
I
D
N
0
S
A

5600

-8-

(8)

Alternative B, which assumes reserve pressures indexed by

borrowing in a $350 to $450 million range, encompasses growth in M1 from
June to September at a 9 percent annual rate.

Nonborrowed and total

reserves would be expected to expand at about 8 and 5 percent annual
rates, respectively, over the last two months of the quarter.

Federal

funds would probably trade mostly a little above 7-3/4 percent.
(9)

We would expect rapid growth of M1 in August of around

14 percent at an annual rate, based on data thus far available, to be
followed by a very substantial moderation to about a 4 percent annual
rate in September.

It still seems likely that the extraordinary bulge in

demand deposits of late spring and early summer will be partly reversed.
More generally, the waning impact on money demand of earlier declines in
rates, along with the effects of the more recent firming of money market
conditions, should also work to moderate growth of M1, including OCDs.
(10)

On a quarterly average basis M1 growth would be at about

a 12-1/2 percent annual rate in the third quarter, implying an even
sharper drop in velocity-at about a 6-3/4 percent annual rate-than in
the first half of the year. With such a continued large build-up in
money relative to GNP, the staff expects that much of the increase in
nominal GNP in the fourth quarter will be financed, given current levels
of interest rates, out of existing cash balances. Velocity growth is
likely to turn positive, and growth of money from September to December
may be at around a 2-1/2 to 3 percent annual rate (implying a quarterly
average growth of near 4-1/2 percent annual rate).

Such a development

would imply growth in M1 from QII '85 to QIV '85 at about an 8-1/2 percent
annual rate, a little above the upper limit of the FOMC's range for the
second half of the year.

-9-

(11)

Under alternative B, both M2 and M3 would be expected to

diverge somewhat from the Committee's June-to-September specification
for growth at about a 7-1/2 percent annual rate set at the July meeting.
Growth of M2 is likely to be higher, around 8-1/2 percent, while growth
of M3 should be lower, about 6-1/4 percent.

M2 growth has been boosted

recently by its M1 component, and it is likely to show some deceleration
as M1 growth slows.

M3 growth, however, is expected to pick up a little

over the balance of the quarter as banks increase their issuance of
managed liabilities to replace declining Treasury deposits.
(12)

The debt of nonfinancial sectors is projected to grow at

an 11-1/2 percent annual rate in the third quarter, a little slower than
in the second, but leaving this aggregate around the 12 percent upper end
of its 1985 range.

The federal government's net need for funds, though

still quite large, is expected to moderate somewhat this quarter on a
seasonally adjusted basis.

On the other hand, businesses' net external

needs for funds are projected to increase over the quarter to finance
further advances in investment spending as internal funds remain flat.
Equity retirements associated with mergers and stock buy-backs are
expected to moderate a little in the third quarter, restraining the rise
in business borrowing.

In the household sector, mortgage borrowing

should continue to edge higher along with the projected pickup in housing
activity, but consumer credit growth is expected to slow.
(13)

Unchanged reserve conditions, as contemplated under alter-

native B, are likely to be associated with short- and long-term interest
rates remaining close to current levels over the upcoming intermeeting
period.

The 3-month Treasury bill rate would be expected to fluctuate

around the 7-1/8 to 7-1/4 percent area.

The dollar might drift down a

-10-

bit more on exchange markets.

Bond markets are likely to be sensitive to

Congressional actions to implement the budget resolution in September
after the recess, and to also significant changes in the foreign exchange
value of the dollar.
(14)

Alternative C assumes a tightening of reserve positions,

with borrowing rising to the $750 to $850 million area.

The restrained

provision of nonborrowed reserves, with little net growth over August
and September, would lead to a rise in the funds rate to about 8-1/2
percent or somewhat higher and to a more rapid slowing of M1 growth.

For

the June-to-September period, growth of M1 would still be relatively high,
about 8 percent.

Expansion over the fourth quarter would be expected to

drop to an annual rate of near one percent as the cumulative impact of
higher interest rates, and perhaps some slowing of transaction demands
relative to the staff GNP forecast, takes hold.
growth would be a little

(15)

For the second half, M1

under 7-1/2 percent.

Such a move toward greater reserve restraint would

probably lead to a sharp rise in short-term rates generally, with the
3-month bill rate rising to around 8 percent.

Private short-term rates

may rise by a bit more as concerns about the financial condition of
certain depository institutions and financial intermediaries intensified
under current circumstances.

Longer-term rates would also come under

fairly substantial upward pressure, at least for a short while, until the
large volume of corporate and municipal bonds currently overhanging the
market was worked down or withdrawn.

The dollar would rise on exchange

markets, although this would probably prove to be no more than a temporary
interruption of a long-term downward trend.

-11-

(16)

Growth of M2 may slow fairly substantially over the next

month or two under this alternative, partly as yields on the nontransactions
components lag, as usual, behind rising market rates.
expected to slow, though perhaps not as much as M2.

M3 also would be
It is probable that

bank issuance of CDs and other managed liabilities would pick up as credit
market demands shift toward banks, and also the commercial paper market,
in a rising rate environment.
(17)

Alternative A involves an easing of pressures on bank

reserve positions, either through a reduction in borrowings to the $100
to $200 million area or by a drop in the discount rate of, say, 1/2
percentage point with a smaller or no accompanying decline in borrowing.
The federal funds rate would drop toward 7 percent, and the decline in
the dollar on foreign exchange markets would accelerate.

Long- and short-

term interest rates would retrace their recent rise and probably fall
still further, although the drop in long-term rates may be damped by
the implications for inflation and for foreign interest in U.S. securities
of a substantial weakening of the dollar.
(18)

Adoption of this alternative, which would tend to

strengthen economic activity, would probably mean that M1 growth for the
second half would cane in well above the upper limit of the FOMC's range.
Growth of M2 also may be above its range, though perhaps only marginally,
as lower market rates increase the relative attractiveness of bank and
thrift deposits.

Financing demands can be expected to strengthen, though

much of this may fall on the open market rather than banks as bond yields
decline and rising stock prices increase the attractiveness of equity
financing.

-12-

Directive language
(19)
are given below.

Two alternative operational paragraphs for the directive
Alternative I represents the current paragraph, with

proposed updating modifications shown in the usual way.

Alternative II

is suggested in case the Committee wishes to restructure the paragraph in
light of the probability that M1 growth will exceed by a substantial margin
the 5 to 6 percent rate originally anticipated at the July meeting.
Alternative I
In the implementation of policy for the immediate future, the
Committee seeks to DECREASE SOMEWHAT (Alt. A), maintain (Alt. B),
INCREASE SOMEWHAT (Alt. C), the existing degree of pressure on
reserve positions.

This action is expected to be consistent with

growth in M2 and M3 at[DEL:
an]annual [DEL: RATES of around [DEL:
rate]
7-1/2]
________ percent RESPECTIVELY during the period from June to
AND

September, and with a substantial slowing of M1 growth to an
annual rate of [DEL: 6] ____
5 to
percent.

Somewhat lesser reserve

restraint might (WOULD) be acceptable in the event of substantially
slower growth of the monetary aggregates while somewhat greater
restraint would (MIGHT) be acceptable in the event of substantially
higher growth.

In either case such a change would be considered

in the context of appraisals of the strength of the business
expansion, progress against inflation, and conditions in domestic
credit and foreign exchange markets.

The Chairman may call for

Committee consultation if it appears to the Manager for Domestic
Operations that pursuit of the monetary objectives and related
reserve paths during the period before the next meeting is likely
to be associated with a federal funds rate persistently outside a
range of [DEL: ____
6 to
10]

TO ____ percent.

-13Alternative II
In the implementation of policy for the immediate future,
the Committee seeks to DECREASE SOMEWHAT (Alt. A), maintain
(Alt. B),

the existing degree of

INCREASE SOMEWHAT (Alt. C),

pressure on reserve positions. This action is expected to be
rate]
an] annual [DEL: RATES of
consistent with growth in M2 and M3 at[DEL:
around [DEL: ____ and ____ percent, RESPECTIVELY,
7-1/2]

during the

and
substantial
a
with
period from June to September, [DEL:
slowing
percent.]
6
5
rate
annual
an
to
growth
M1
of

M1 GROWTH IS EXPECTED TO SLOW MARKEDLY FROM ITS RECENT PACE,
BUT GIVEN RELATIVELY RAPID GROWTH IN JULY AND EARLY AUGUST,
EXPANSION OVER THE JUNE TO SEPTEMBER PERIOD MAY BE AT AN
____ TO ____ PERCENT ANNUAL RATE.

SOMEWHAT GREATER RESTRAINT

WOULD [MIGHT] BE SOUGHT IN THE EVENT OF SUBSTANTIALLY HIGHER
GROWTH IN THE MONETARY AGGREGATES.
MIGHT [WOULD]

SOMEWHAT LESSER RESTRAINT

BE SOUGHT IN THE EVENT OF SUBSTANTIALLY SLOWER

GROWTH, ALTHOUGH IN THE CASE OF M1 A WEAKENING OVER THE NEAR
TERM THAT BROUGHT GROWTH FOR THE THIRD QUARTER TO THE 5 TO 6
PERCENT ANNUAL RATE ESTABLISHED AT THE PREVIOUS MEETING WOULD BE

ACCEPTABLE.

In either case such a change would be considered

in the context of appraisals of the strength of the business
expansion, progress against inflation, and conditions in
domestic credit and foreign exchange markets.
may call for Committee consultation if it

The Chairman

appears to the

Manager for Domestic Operations that pursuit of the monetary
objectives and related reserve paths during the period before
the next meeting is

likely to be associated with a federal funds

6 to
rate persistently outside a range of [DEL: 10] ____ TO ____ percent.

Selected Interest Rates
Percent

Period

Short Term
Treasury bills
CDs
federal
secondary market
secondary
fundsecondary
market
secondary
Smarket
month
-month
Iear
3-month
1

2

3

4

August 19,

comm
omm

money
market
mark l
ua
mut
fund

bank
bank
prime
on
lan

3 year

10 year

30year

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

S government constant
maturity yields

Long-Term
corporate
muni
A utility
cipal
recently
Bond
offered
Buyer
12

13

1985

home mortgages
convenF NA
S&L
tional
1-year
at S&Ls
ce
ARM
14

15

16

1984--High
Low

11.77
7.95

10.65
7.71

10.76
8.01

11.09
8.39

11.71
8.24

11.35
8.04

10.72
8.38

13.00
11.00

13.44
10.39

13.84
11.30

13.81
11.36

15.30
12.70

11.44
9.86

14.68
13.14

14.00
12.50

12.31
10.81

1985--High
Low

8.75
7.13

8.65
6.77

9.03
6.92

9.21
7.07

9.13
7.34

8.83
7.22

8.31
7.00

10.75
9.50

11.19
8.83

11.95
10.00

11.89
10.30

13.23
11.37

10.31
9.13

13.29
12.03

13.00
11.50

11.14
9.47

1984--July
Aug.
Sept.

11.23
11.64
11.30

10.12
10.47
10.37

10.52
10.61
10.47

10.89
10.71
10.51

11.56
11.47
11.29

11.06
11.19
11.11

10.30
10.58
10.62

13.00
13.00
12.97

13.08
12.50
12.34

13.36
12.72
12.52

13.21
12.54
12.29

14.93
14.12
13.86

10.84
10.40
10.54

14.67
14.47
14.35

14.00
13.70
13.50

12.20
12.14
12.00

Oct.
Nov.
Dec.

9.99
9.43
8.38

9.74
8.61
8.06

9.87
8.81
8.28

9.93
9.01
8.60

10.38
9.18
8.60

10.05
9.01
8.39

10.16
9.34
8.55

12.58
11.77
11.06

11.85
10.90
10.56

12.16
11.57
11.50

11.98
11.56
11.52

13.52
12.98
12.88

10.77
10.69
10.40

14.13
13.64
13.18

13.38
12.75
12.50

11.96
11.54
11.01

1985--Jan.
Feb.
Mar.

8.35
8.50
8.58

7.76
8.27
8.52

8.00
8.39
8.90

8.33
8.56
9.06

8.14
8.69
9.02

7.99
8.46
8.74

8.00
7.80
7.97

10.61
10.50
10.50

10.43
10.55
11.05

11.38
11.51
11.86

11.45
11.47
11.81

12.78
12.76
13.17

9.96
10.07
10.23

13.08
12.92
13.17

12.50
12.50
12.63

10.84
10.63
10.92

Apr.
May
June

8.27
7.97
7.53

7.95
7.48
6.95

8.23
7.65
7.09

8.44
7.85
7.27

8.49
7.92
7.44

8.31
7.80
7.34

7.97
7.71
7.21

10.50
10.31
9.78

10.49
9.75
9.05

11.43
10.85
10.16

11.47
11.05
10.45

12.75
12.25
11.60

9.85
9.46
9.18

13.20
12.91
12.21

12.75
12.30
11.50

10.83
10.56
9.89

July

7.88

7.08

7.20

7.31

7.64

7.58

7.04p

9.50

9.18

10.31

10.50

9.20

12.06

11.50

9.68

8
15
22
29

8.19
8.14
7.91
7.60

7.76
7.64
7.32
7.22

7.94
7.81
7.48
7.38

8.13
8.00
7.70
7.61

8.19
8.11
7.77
7.60

8.06
7.98
7.67
7.49

7.82
7.77
7.74
7.55

10.50
10.50
10.29
10.00

10.16
9.89
9.49
9.44

11.22
11.01
10.69
10.53

11.33
11.18
10.93
10.80

12.49
12.24
12.01
11.78

9.56
9.34
9.39
9.27

13.02
12.94
12.83
12.71

12.50
12.50
12.00
12.00

10.61
10.59
10.52
10.40

June

5
12
19
26

7.75
7.62
7.13
7.46

7.04
7.12
6.77
7.00

7.15
7.21
6.92
7.19

7.32
7.37
7.10
7.38

7.45
7.46
7.34
7.52

7.40
7.40
7.22
7.34

7.47
7.29
7.26
7.01

10.00
10.00
9.86
9.50

9.10
9.09
8.86
9.22

10.12
10.10
10.02
10.39

10.46
10.43
10.34
10.60

11.57
11.50
11.71
11.62

9.10
9.18
9.19
9.24

12.39
12.27
12.05
12.15

11.50
11.50
11.50
11.50

10.05
9.90
9.83
9.77

July

3
10
17
24
31

8.06
8.07
7.77
7.88
7.64

6.91
6.90
7.03
7.21
7.23

7.04
6.96
7.15
7.32
7.39

7.22
7.07
7.27
7.43
7.51

7.55
7.44
7.59
7.75
7.78

7.49
7.46
7.51
7.68
7.69

7.12
7.09
7.01
7.00
7.00

9.50
9.50
9.50
9.50
9.50

9.11
8.83
9.08
9.34
9.46

10.25
10.00
10.19
10.42
10.60

10.47
10.30
10.39
10.57
10.73

11.37
11.53
11.62
11.81
11.83

9.25
9.18
9.13
9.25
9.35

12.13
12.03
11.94
12.03
12.17

11.50
11.50
11.50
11.50
11.50

9.72
9.78
9.56
9.73
9.62

Aug.

7
14

7.92
7.88

7.26
7.13

7.46
7.36

7.61
7.51

7.85
7.79

7.78
7.71

7.05
7.05

9.50
9.50

9.54
9.31

10.60
10.40

10.72
10.64

11.78
11.82

9.40
9.47

12.23
12.24

11.50
11.50

9.57
9.47

Daily--Aug.

9
15
16

7.61
8.53
7
8.1 p

7.16
7.19
7.11

7.38
7.36
7.30

7.51
7.52
7.45

7.79
7.81
7.91

7.71
7.78
7.80

9.50
9.50
9.50

9.30
9.28
9.20p

10.37
10.36
10.30p

10.61
10.64
57
10. p

1985--May

NOTE: Weekly data for columns 1 through 11 are statement week averages Data In column 7 are taken from
Donoghue's Money Fund Report Columns 12 and 13 are 1-day quotes for Friday and Thursday, respectively.
following the end of the statement week Column 13 Is the Bond Buyer revenue Index Column 14 Is an average
of contract Interest rates on new commitments for conventional first mortgages with 80 percent loan to-value

11.64

ratios at a sample of savings and loan associations on the Friday following the end of the statement week.
After November 30, 1983, column 15 refers only to VA-guaranteed loans Column 16 Is the average Initial contract rate on new commitments for one-year ARM s at those institutions offering both fixed- and adjustablerate mortgages with the same number of discount points
FR 1367 (4/85)

Security Dealer Positions
August 19, 1985

Millions of dollars

32,155
5,107

15,505
-8,251

1,296
-1,038

6,840
-5,664

19,525
11,086

21,064
11,263

8,272
-14,456

3,381
-986

-7.223
-10,679

-4
-13,053

1985--ligh
Low

53,685
8,154

14,672
535

2.068
-390

6,479
-6,920*

24,613*
16,693

21,623
14,603

3,800
-14,946

6,909
-373

-6,190
-10,756*

7,028
-28.599

1984--July

Aug.
Sept.

12,355
11,499
17,976

-2,382
4,542
10,316

-3,391
-1,184
623

16,040
16,098
14,063

14,751
15,556
17,695

-2,528
-7,312
-9,771

2,800
2,504
2,156

-9,650
-9,073
-8,334

-2,592
-9,304
-8,960

Oct.
Nov.
Dec.

21,955
19,094
26,220

11,649
9,748
13,841

116
-487
-416

2,649
5,087
4,762

13,168
16,106
18,470

16,285
17,950
19,180

-9,867
-8,549
-11,718

2,154
533
-389

-8,815
-9,229
-8,313

-5,312
-11,991
-9,256

1985--Jan.
Feb.
Mar.

24,023
32,957
48,495

11,614
12,456
14,028

-110
851
1,316

2,467
227
-4,337

19,416
19,614
19,337

19,977
19,444
16,216

-13,318
-3,648
843

702
2,494
4,677

-7,033
-8,179
-8,353

-9,659
-10,289
4,822

Apr.
Nay
June

36,619
22,504
13,759

11,538
8,004
4,588

1,203
1,082
845

-4,536
-3,965
-3,874

18,049
19,819
22,746

17,560
19,313
19,268

-2,963
-5,881
-4,991

5,567
6,108
4,466

-7,833
-7,902
-9,616

-1,975
-14,169
-19,733

July

20,558*

2,946*

1,293*

-4,099*

23,461*

18,370*

-5,230*

3,780*

22
29

15,183
9,314

6,546
3,832

999
913

-5,148
-5,221

19,634
20,721

18,546
19.378

-7,051
-7,152

6,031
5,245

-8,136
-8,055

-16.292
-20,464

June

5
12
19
26

12,647
8,154
12,358
17,087

7,193
7,132
5,379
1,155

1,014
1,083
745
585

-2,737
-3,907
-3,898
-5,533

22,182
23.420
22,541
22,628

21,551
21,497
18,119
17,399

-7,302
-6,737
-6,008
-2,873

4,477
4,233
4,928
4.435

-8,858
-10,082
-9,672
-9,684

-24,987
-28,599
-19,844
-11,019

July

3
10
17
24
31

22,160
21,584
18,034
22,582*
19,365*

535
2,908
4,107
4,089*
2,041*

893
1,022
1,138
1,435*
1,651*

-900
-1,320
-3,686
-6,920*
-5,916*

22,329
24,178
24,613
23,605*
22,083*

18,339
21,413
18,538
17,428*
16,275*

-1,493
-5,389
-7,087
-4,595*
-5,815*

3,654
2,820
3,395
4,389*
4,549*

-9,054
-9,340
-10,449
-10.756*
-10,352*

-12,141
-14,702
-12,534
-6,081*
-5,108*

Aug.

7
14

20,108*
24,514*

2,520*
8,332*

1,301*
1,394*

-8,541*
-5,220*

22.748*
23,754*

18,011*
17,593*

-6,389*
-7,046*

4,900*
6,615*

-10,613*
-11.831*

-3,828*
-9,040*

1984--igh
Low

1985--Nay

NOTE: Government securities dealer cash posltlons consist of securities already delivered, commitments to buy (sell) securities on an outright basis for Immediate delivery (5 business days or less),
and certain "when-ssued" securities for delayed delivery (more than 5 business days). Futures and forward positions include all other commitments Involving delayed delivery; futures contracts are arranged on organized exchanges.
1. Cash plus forward plus futures positions In Treasury, federal agency, and private short-term
securities.
SStrictly confidential

-3
-5
-1
-13*
-45*

-10,102*

-9,845*

Net Changes

in

System Holdings of Securities 1

STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL (FR)
CLASS II-FOMC

Millions of dollars, not seasonally adjusted

August
Treasury
bills net
2
change

Period

Treasury coupons net purchases
within
1-year

1-5

IV
1985--qTR.

I
II

Mar.

-4,268
2,362
-138

Apr.
Hay
June

164

within
1 year

5

15

5-10

5-10

over 10
over 10

totals
totaltotal

Feb.

1985--fay

June

5

July

3

10
17
24
31
Aug.

-300

-1,555
1,918
169
6,432

-286
70
1,982
-316

-735
8,409

462
-350

-4,368
2,345
1,289

-2,315
3,095
-318

7,321
-951
2,039

6,141
-9,257
2,766

-246

-1,815

1,484
-600

961
245

465
846

1,657

-100
108

96

1,295

-100
----

--

-100
-O0

--

1,326

-'

qA-

--

--

96

1,426

1,295

-300
3
__

~f

__

249
1,950

-200
-46
79
494

-200

LEVEL--Aug. 15

78.1

286
-444
-1,385
851
739
1,687
921
-3,000
701
406
1,369

75

75

68
524

350
449

..

249
2,010

7
14

Net RPs"

2,462
684
1,461
-5,445
1,450

-880
-300
3

12
19
26

1985

2,035
8,491
8,312
16,342
6,964

-200

1985--Jan

Net change
outright
holdi

19

4,564
2,768
2,803
3,653
3,440
-

6,026
-942
2,099

July

277

1,130

total

811
379
307
383
441

808

-1,168
491
-424
4,880
-2,044
7,183

Federal agencies net purchases

over 10

2.138
1,702
1,794
1,896
1,938

-3,052
5,337
5,698
13,068
3,779
1984--QTR. I
II
III

5-10

3

4

--

6

6

36.4

15.2

-

20.8

1 Change from end of-period to end-of period.
2 Outright transactions in market and with foreign accounts, and redemptions (-) in bill auctions.
3 Outright transactions in market and with foreign accounts, and short-term notes acquired in exchange for maturing bills. Excludes redemptions, maturity shifts, rollovers of maturing coupon
issues, and direct Treasury borrowing from the System.
4 Outright transactions in market and with foreign accounts only. Excludes redemptions and maturity
shifts.

2.6

4.0

1.2

.4

8.2

179.5

-2.3

5 In addition to the net purchases of securities, also reflects changes in System holdings of bankers'
acceptances, direct Treasury borrowing from the System and redemptions (-) of agency and Trea
sury coupon issues.
6 Includes changes in RPs (+), matched sale-purchase transactions (-), and matched purchase sale
transactions (+).