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.

March 22,

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)

March 22,

1985

CLASS I - FOMC
MONETARY POLICY ALTERNATIVES

Recent Developments
(1)

M1 expanded during January and February at an 11-1/2 percent

average annual rate, but partial data suggest that growth in that aggregate
is

moderating in

March to about a 3 to 4 percent pace.

Growth of M1 over the

December-to-March period is currently estimated at around 9 percent, compared with the 8 percent rate specified by the FOMC.
contributed to strength in January and February.

All components of M1

Demand deposits were parti-

cularly robust in February, but such deposits began to contract in early
March.

Inflows to Super NOW accounts have slowed following a pick-up in

January when their minimum balance requirement was reduced; M1 as a whole
does not appear to have been affected by this change.
(2)
March.

As with M1, M2 and M3 are apparently decelerating markedly in

For the three months, expansion of these two aggregates is estimated

at 9-1/2 and 7-1/2 percent, respectively, compared with the 10 to 11 percent
rates of growth set by the Committee.

Over the course of the quarter,

interest rate relationships became less favorable for retail deposits and
money market funds.

In addition, there was a considerable weakening in large

CDs at thrifts in February and early March.
(3)

The debt of domestic nonfinancial sectors is estimated to

have expanded at about a 12 percent annual rate on average during the first
quarter, based on partial data.

About 1-1/2 percentage points reflects

substitution of debt for equity in mergers and corporate restructuring,
assuming that the debt for equity swap of Phillips takes place by the end of
March.

Federal sector debt has continued to expand rapidly this quarter,

-2-

KEY MONETARY AGGREGATES
(Seasonally adjusted annual rates of growth)

1

Dec.
to
Mar.1

QIV
to
Mar. 1

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

M1

9..0

14.1

3.6

9.0

9.5

M2

13.6

10.5

4.6

9.6

10.7

M3

10.1

7.9

4.7

7.6

9.3

Domestic nonfinancial debt

12.8

11.7

6.2

13.3

Nonborrowed reserves 3

39.1

15.6

2.0

19.1

20.3

Total reserves

31.1

19.7

1.5

17.6

17.5

Monetary base

8.0

12.3

8.3

9.6

9.2

Money and Credit Aggregates

Bank credit
Reserve Measures

Memo:

2

(Millions of dollars)
Adjustment and seasonal
borrowing

485

5984

Excess reserves

899

7515

Note: Monthly reserve measures, including excess reserves and borrowing, are
calculated by prorating averages for two-week reserve maintenance periods that
overlap months.
1. Based on available data through March 18; the M1 estimate assumes increases
in the March 25 and April 1 weeks.
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.
4. Through March 20.
5. Reserve maintenance period ending March 13.

-3although at a pace somewhat below that of the fourth quarter.

Bond offerings

by nonfinancial corporations in January and February were held substantially
below the pace of the fourth quarter, while business borrowing from banks and
in the commercial paper market picked up last month after showing little
growth in January; business loans at large banks remained strong in early
March.

Expansion of household sector debt is estimated to have slowed

slightly in the first two months of the year.
(4)

Reflecting the rapid growth of transactions deposits, total

reserves are estimated to have expanded at a 17-1/2 percent annual rate
from December to March, though growth decelerated month by month over the
period.

With borrowing at the discount window little changed,

reserves increased at about the same pace.

nonborrowed

The nonborrowed reserves path for

the intermeeting period was constructed on the assumption of $350 million of
borrowing; as M1 strengthened relative to path, the Desk conducted its
operations with a view to tilting the odds somewhat toward borrowing
coming in above rather than below this level.

Nonborrowed reserves generally

have been close to target, but with the demand for excess reserves unexpectedly high, borrowed reserves have averaged around $600 million in the
two complete maintenance periods since the last FOMC meeting; thus far in
the current statement period borrowing has averaged around $500 million.
(5)

Federal funds traded mainly between 8-3/8 and 8-3/4 percent

during most of the intermeeting period, averaging close to 8-1/2 percent,
about the same level as in the first half of February.

Other short-term

rates have risen from 25 to 60 basis points, however, and bond yields are
as much as 60 basis points higher.

Lack of progress in deficit reduction

efforts contributed to market expectations that credit markets would be
tightening as the year progressed.

In addition, continued strength in

-4money growth over the first

two months of the year led many to anticipate

that monetary policy might soon have to tighten, if
in process of doing so.

it was not already

The closing of non-federally insured Ohio thrift

institutions had relatively little impact on domestic credit markets-

or so far on the national pattern of deposit and currrency flows.
bill

Treasury

rates dropped some 30 to 40 basis points relative to yields on private

instruments immediately following the Governor's announcement in Ohio,
but quality spreads subsequently moved back to around previously prevailing
levels.
(6)

Since the last FOMC meeting, the weighted-average value of

the dollar has declined, net, by 1-1/2 percent.
wide in often volatile market conditions.

Fluctuations have been

The dollar rose sharply early

in the intermeeting period when U.S. economic and monetary data proved
stronger than anticipated.

.

The dollar subsequently retraced most of its

earlier

decline, but again depreciated very sharply in mid-March largely in response
to concerns stemming from difficulties at Ohio thrift

institutions and less

favorable economic indicators.

.

The United States sold around $323 million of which $306 million

was against marks and the remainder against sterling.

Prospective developments
(7)

The table below provides three alternative specifications

for growth in the monetary aggregates from March to June, along with
associated ranges for the federal funds rate.

(More detailed data, in-

cluding implied growth from the fourth quarter to June, can be found on
the table and charts on the following pages.)

Alternative B, which appears

consistent with roughly unchanged pressures on reserve positions, calls
for money growth that would keep M1 in June around the upper limit of the
parallel band that extends back from the endpoints of the longer-run
range for the aggregate.

A more marked slowing of money growth is

specified in alternative C, keeping M1 within the band though still

above

the upper limit of the cone; alternative A contemplates somewhat more
rapid money growth than B that would pull M1 above the upper limit of

the band.
Alt. A

Alt. B

Alt. C

M1

7-1/2

6-1/2

5

M2

8

7

5-1/2

M3

8-3/4

8

7

Growth from March
to June

Associated
federal funds
rate range
(8)

5-1/2 to 9-1/2

6 to 10

7 to 11

M1 growth at around a 6-1/2 percent annual rate from

March to June under alternative B represents a fairly considerable moderation from the average pace of the past three months.

Growth on a quarterly

average basis would probably be around 6-3/4 percent, slightly higher than

Alternative Levels and Growth Rates for Key Monetary Aggregates

Monthly Levels

M1
----------------------------------Alt. C
Alt. A
Alt. B
----------

M2
-----------------------Alt. C
Alt. A
Alt. B
-----

M3
-----------------------Alt. A
Alt. B
Alt. C
--------

562.7
569.3
571.0

562.7
569.3
571.0

562.7
569.3
571.0

2398.3
2419.3
2428.6

2398.3
2419.3
2428.6

2398.3
2419.3
2428.6

3020.5
3040.3
3052.2

3020.5
3040.3
3052.2

3020.5
3040.3
3052.2

574.3
577.9
581.7

574.1
577.2
580.3

573.9
576.2
578.1

2443.8
2460.4
2477.2

2442.8
2457.0
2471.1

2441.3
2451.6
2462.0

3073.6
3096.2
3119.0

3072.5
3092.8
3113.2

3071.8
3088.7
3105.6

9.0
14.1
3.6

9.0
14.1
3.6

9.0
14.1
3.6

13.6
10.5
4.6

13.6
10.5
4.6

13.6
10.5
4.6

10.1
7.9
4.7

10.1
7.9
4.7

10.1
7.9
4.7

7.0
7.4
7.9

6.5
6.5
6.4

6.0
5.0
4.0

7.5
8.2
8.2

7.0
7.0
6.9

6.3
5.1
5.1

8.4
8.8
8.8

8.0
7.9
7.9

7.7
6.6
6.6

10.3
7.3

10.3
6.7

10.3
5.9

12.0
7.5

12.0
6.9

12.0
6.0

10.5
7.7

10.5
7.3

10.5
6.7

Dec. 84 to Mar. 85
Feb. 85 to June 85
Mar. 85 to June 85

9.0
6.5
7.5

9.0
5.8
6.5

9.0
4.7
5.0

9.6
7.2
8.0

9.6
6.4
7.0

9.6
5.3
5.5

7.6
7.8
8.8

7.6
7.2
8.0

7.6
6.4
7.0

Q4 84 to Mar. 85
Q4 84 to June 85

9.5
8.7

9.5
8.3

9.5
7.6

10.7
9.6

10.7
9.2

10.7
8.5

9.3
9.2

9.3
8.9

9.3
8.4

1985--January
February
March
April
May
June
Growth Rates
Monthly
1985--January
February
March
April
May
June
Growth Rates
1985--1Q
Q2

Chart 1

Actual and Targeted M1
Billi

ons of dotI

ACTUAL LEVEL
-ESTIMATED LEVEL
* SHORT RUN ALTERNATIVES

-re
1 600

--

-- 590

580

.5-

570

-I 560

-- 550
o"
*

U

0

O N

N

1984

I

D

D

I

I F

J

F

I

I

I

I

M

I

A

I

SI

M I

M

J

J

J

1985

,

A

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I D

S

0

N

D

540

CHART 2

ACTUAL AND TARGETED M2
Bil Iions of dol lars

I 2600

S---*

8.5:

ACTUAL LEVEL
ESTIMATED LEVEL
SHORT RUN ALTERNATIVES

2550

6XI

2500
*

*

2450

0

e

*

-'

/

--

2400

2350

2300

I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
A
S
SN
D
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
1984
1985

I

0

I

N

2250

CHART 3

ACTUAL AND TARGETED M3
B iions of dollars

1 3300

ACTUAL LEVEL
ESTIMATED LEVEL
SHORT RUN ALTERNATIVES
3200

3100

.*'

.'

.**'

,.

3000

2900

2800

0

N
1984

D

J

F

M

A

M

J
1985

J

A

S

0

N

D

-7-

projected expansion in nominal GNP, reflecting some remaining lagged
effects on money demand of earlier interest rate declines.

The pattern of

M1 growth over the quarter could be affected by the timing of tax refunds.
The amount of such refunds to date has lagged considerably behind disbursements in comparable periods during the past two years.

Refunds are

expected to run 10 percent less in total this year, but payments thus far
have been well below that pace.

That may have been a marginal factor

restraining M1 growth in recent weeks,

and as the Treasury catches up

could boost growth a bit.
(9)

The specified growth of M1 for the March-to-June period

would imply expansion from QIV to June at an 8-1/4 percent annual rate
(assuming growth in March in fact turns out to be at the 3-1/2 percent
rate currently estimated).

For M1 growth for the year to be just below

the upper limit of the FOMC's longer-run range--for example,

to be around

6-1/2 percent (OIV to QIV basis)-its growth would have to slow further
over the June-to-December period, to about a 3-3/4 percent annual rate.
Such a slowing would imply a return to rising velocity on the order of
2 to 2-1/2 percent at an annual rate, given the staff's GNP projectiona velocity rise that suggests the possibility of some little increase
in interest rates as the second half progresses.
(10)

Growth in M2 and M3 is expected to be subdued over the

second quarter, reflecting the anticipated slowdown in M1 and relatively
moderate expansion in their nontransactions components.

Nontransactions

components have recently grown quite modestly, and little further change
is expected, except for greater CD expansion in the spring to compensate
in part for slower growth in core deposits.

M2 would move close to the

-8upper limit of its long-run cone by June under such conditions, and M3
would be within its cone.
(11)

Growth in the debt of nonfinancial sectors in the second

quarter is projected to remain close to the pace of the first quarter.
With expansion at around an 11-1/2 percent annual rate, the increase in
nonfinancial debt would continue to outstrip growth in GNP, and for the
first half of the year would be just below the 12 percent upper limit
of the Committee's monitoring range.

We have assumed that equity retire-

ments related to mergers and corporate financial restructuring will
account for approximately 3/4 of a percentage point of debt growth over
the March-to-June period, somewhat less than in the first quarter.
Underlying business needs for funds, however, may edge higher as capital
expenditures increase moderately while internally generated funds show
little change.

For households, mortgage borrowing may rise, reflecting

the pick-up in expenditures following the decline in mortgage rates late
last year, but consumer installment credit should slow somewhat, although
remaining quite rapid.

Federal government borrowing is projected to

increase (after seasonal adjustment),

mirroring to some extent swings in

its cash balance over the first two quarters rather than a fundamental
shift in credit market pressures.
(12)

The money growth objectives of alternative B are expected

to involve continuation of about the existing degree of pressure on
reserve positions, with reserve paths based on adjustment plus seasonal
borrowing at the discount window averaging around $350 million and
federal funds expected to trade around 8-1/2 percent.

Seasonal borrowing

has averaged around $80 million in recent weeks, and with the spread of
the federal funds rate over the discount rate likely to remain fairly

-9narrow under this alternative,

seasonal borrowing would ordinarily be

expected to increase only moderately further over the intermeeting period.
If availability of the temporary simplified seasonal borrowing program or
liquidity pressures at some agricultural banks were to result in an
unusual rise in seasonal borrowing over the intermeeting period, or if
adjustment borrowing rose substantially for special reasons, such as the
situation in Ohio, such borrowing increases above normal could be treated
as in effect "nonborrowed" reserves in the conduct of open market operations.

Nonborrowed reserves are anticipated to expand at about a 10

percent annual rate over the next three months, and total reserves by
about 9 percent, to meet the money objectives of this alternative and if
demands for excess reserves are in the $600 to $700 million range.
(13)

Interest rates could fall a little on balance over the

intermeeting period under this alternative, although some near-term
pressures could be evident at month end, owing to statement-date
pressures and the process of distributing the Treasury's current end-ofquarter financing that raises about $12-3/4 billion of new cash in coupon
issues.

The 3-month Treasury bill rate might decline toward 8-1/4 percent,

as continued moderate growth in money and discount window borrowing
around the $350 million level further allayed concerns about a tightening
of monetary policy.

Significant downward movements in long-term rates

are unlikely in the absence of any substantial progress on deficit reduction measures or a noticeable weakening of economic activity.

In general,

domestic credit, as well as foreign exchange, markets are likely to
remain unusually skittish over the weeks ahead, having been sensitized by
recent problems in the government securities market and with thrift
institutions.

Thus, interest rates and foreign exchange rates may be

-10prone to particularly sharp day-to-day movements.

In foreign exchange

markets the dollar might decline a little further, on balance,

if

interest

rates tend a bit lower or if uncertainties about the strength of the U.S.
economy or the stability of financial markets become more prevalent.
(14)

Alternative A contemplates some easing of pressures on

reserve positions, with borrowing dropping to around $200 million and the
federal funds rate declining to close to the 8 percent discount rate.
Total and nonborrowed reserves might increase at rates of 10 and 13 percent, respectively, over the next three months.

Other short-term interest

rates might fall sharply under this alternative, with the 3-month Treasury
bill

rate dropping below 8 percent.

The easing of money markets would

also tend to relieve the sensitivity of markets to the condition of
financial institutions.

Bond yields, too, would drop, and in foreign

exchange markets, the dollar would fall substantially further.
(15)

M1 growth would slow relatively little from the December-

to-March pace under this alternative and would move above the upper limit
of the band.

M2 and M3 growth rates are expected to be relatively moder-

ate, though M2 is expected to remain above the long-run cone in June
under this approach. Moreover, there is potential for quite rapid growth
for a while in the broad aggregates, particularly if market rates were to
decline abruptly in face of lagging institutional rates.
(16)

From the fourth quarter to June, M1 would increase at an

8-3/4 percent annual rate under alternative A.

Growth would have to slow

to about a 3-1/4 percent annual rate over the last six months of the
year, if growth for the year (QIV-to-QIV basis) were to be just below the
upper limit of the long-run range.

This would increase the odds that

interest rates will rise in the second half of the year.

-11(17)

Under alternative C, the 5 percent pace of M1 growth from

March to June would keep this aggregate below the upper limit of the
band.

And the slower growth specified for M2 and M3 would place both of

these aggregates within their respective long-run cones in June.

Such a

deceleration of money growth would likely involve a significant tightening of reserve conditions.

Borrowing might increase to around $750 mil-

lion, and the federal funds rate would probably rise to around 9-1/2
percent.

Nonborrowed and total reserves would increase at 4-1/2 and 7

percent annual rates, respectively.
(18)

Other short-term interest rates also would rise under

this alternative, although the extent of the increase might be damped
a bit given existing expectations for some tightening in policy.

The

Treasury bill rate might rise to around 9 percent or higher, with private
rates increasing a little more as the tightening of money markets accentuated concerns about credit quality.
relatively small on balance,

The rise in bond rates might be

as slower money growth and the potential for

less robust economic activity lay the groundwork for a possible decline
in rates in the second half of the year.

The dollar would probably

regain some of its recent loss in exchange markets.

-12Directive language
(19)

Proposed language for the operational paragraph is shown

below, with alternatives for describing the degree of pressure on reserve
positions.

The bracketed phrase in the first sentence, which is drawn

from the previous directive,

seems more appropriate if the Committee opts

for alternatives A or B rather than the tightening of alternative C.
Also,

if the Committee were to adopt something like the proposed language

in caps in the body of the paragraph beginning with the phrase "IN EITHER
CASE ... ",

that might address the issues implicit in the bracketed

language.
OPERATIONAL PARAGRAPH
In the implementation of policy for the immediate future,
remaining]
taking account of the progress against inflation, [DEL:
uncertainties in the business outlook, and the EXCHANGE VALUE
in the
[DEL:
strength] of the dollar [DEL:

exchange markets,] the Committee

seeks to REDUCE SOMEWHAT (Alt. A)/maintain (Alt. B)/INCREASE
SOMEWHAT (Alt. C) THE EXISTING DEGREE OF PRESSURE ON reserve
recent
of

conditions characteristic
POSITIONS. [DEL:

weeks.

Should]

THIS ACTION IS EXPECTED TO BE CONSISTENT WITH growth in M1,
annual
an
[DEL:
appear to be exceeding
M2,

rate

of around 8 percent

and M3 AT ANNUAL RATES[DEL:
a rate] of around [DEL:
11]
to
10

and]

____, ____,

December
AND ____percent RESPECTIVELY during the period from[FRL:

increasesin
mondest
March TO JUNE, [DEL:
ifbusiness
sought, particulary
and
rate
factory

exchange
market

to

reserve pressures would be
satisa
at
rising
is
activity
pressures diminish.] SOMEWHAT

GREATER RESERVE RESTRAINT WOULD (MIGHT) BE ACCEPTABLE IN THE
EVENT OF MORE SUBSTANTIAL GROWTH OF THE MONETARY AGGREGATES WHILE

-13on
reserve
SOMEWHAT lesser restraint [DEL:

positions] would (MIGHT) be

in the
acceptable in the event of substantially slower growth [DEL:
monetary aggregates, particularly.] IN EITHER CASE SUCH A CHANGE
WOULD BE CONSIDERED ONLY in the context of APPRAISALS OF THE
STRENGTH OF THE BUSINESS EXPANSION,

PROGRESS AGAINST INFLATION,

sluggishgrowth
economic
in
AND CONDITIONS IN DOMESTIC CREDIT AND[DEL:
in]
dollar
the
of
strenght
continued
and
activity
markets.

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

Selected Interest Rates
March 25, 1985

Percent

1983--High
Low

10.21
8.42

9.49
7.63

9.64
7.72

9.79
7.82

9.93
8.15

9.85
8.01

8.79
7.71

11.50
10.50

11.57
9.40

12.14
10.18

12.11
10.32

13.42
11.64

10.56
9.21

13.89
12.55

13.50
11.50

n.a.
na..

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

10.12
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

1984--Jan.
Feb.
Mar.

9.56
9.59
9.91

8.90
9.09
9.52

9.02
9.18
9.66

9.07

9.23
9.35
9.81

8.80

9.67

9.42
9.54
10.08

8.91

11.00
11.00
11.21

10.93
11.05
11.59

11.67
11.84
12.32

11.75
11.95
12.38

12.99
13.05
13.63

10.03
10.00
10.37

13.37
13.23
13.39

12.50
12.50
12.70

10.99
10.89
11.02

Apr.
May
June

10.29
10.32
11.06

9.69
9.83
9.87

9.84
10.31
10.51

9.95
10.57
10.93

10.41
11.11
11.34

10.17
10.38
10.82

9.29
9.52
9.92

11.93
12.39
12.60

11.98
12.75
13.18

12.63
13.41
13.56

12.65
13.43
13.44

13.96
14.79
15.00

10.26
10.88
11.07

13.65
13.94
14.42

13.00
13.94
14.00

11.16
11.35
11.67

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.

8.35
8.50

7.76
8.27

8.00
8.39

8.33
8.56

8.14
8.69

7.99
8.46

8.00
8
7. 0p

10.61

10.43
10.55

11.38
11.51

11.45
11.47

12.78
12.76

9.96
10.07

13.08
12.92

12.50
12.50

10.84
10.63

2
9
16
23
30

8.75
8.27
8.23
8.19
8.45

7.77
7.78
7.73
7.71
7.73

8.12
8.05
7.99
7.94
7.96

8.47
8.37
8.36
8.28
8.25

8.31
8.12
8.08
8.12

8.16
8.04
7.95
7.89
7.99

8.31
8.21
8.04
7.93
7.85

10.68
10.50

10.51
10.52
10.54
10.35
10.25

11.54
11.54
11.53
11.34
11.09

11.55
11.57
11.60
11.45
11.19

12.96
12.92
12.82
12.51
12.59

10.31
10.11
9.95
9.60
9.81

13.10
13.12
13.12
12.96
12.93

12.50
12.50
12.50
12.50
12.50

10.87
10.84
10.82
10.80
10.62

6
13
20
27

8.59
8.44
8.57
8.40

8.14
8.21
8.20
8.40

8.25
8.30

8.44

8.34

8.64
8.65
8.86

8.42

8.29
8.57

8.46
8.49
8.46
8.71

8.49

7.79
7.78
7.83
7.81

10.50
10.50
10.50
10.50

10.42
10.43
10.39
10.76

11.30
11.40
11.39
11.75

11.31
11.31
11.37
11.71

12.68
12.60
12.95
13.18

9.96
9.98
10.09
10.24

12.91
12.90
12.94
13.02

12.50
12.50
12.50
12.50

10.64
10.59
10.69
10.83

6
13
20
27

8.63
8.52
8.75

8.65
8.60
8.54

8.92
8.92
9.03

9.04
9.05
9.21

9.12
9.06
9.13

8.74

7.82

8.73
8.83

7.91
7.99

10.50
10.50
10.50

11.08
11.03
11.19

11.90
11.81
11.95

11.87
11.78
11.89

13.14
13.23
13.21

10.25
10.25
10.24

13.10
13.20
13.34

12.50
12.50
12.50

10.68
10.87
11.07

15
21
22

8.81
8.60
3
8.6 p

8.41
8.44
8.51

8.98
8.84
8.90

9.18
9.03
9.08

9.24
8.88
8.90

8.94
8.78
8.77

---

10.50
10.50
10.50

11.17
11.02
11.05p

11.93
11.82
11.88p

11.86
11.77
8 3
11.
p

1985--Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

Daily--Mar.

9.20

8.19

8.48

8.72

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 end 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 s an average
of contract Interest rates on new commitments for conventional first mortgages with 80 percent loan-to-value

10.50

10.75
10.75
10.50

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 Lommitments for one-year ARHs at those institutions offering
both fixed- and adjustable-rate mortgages with the same number of discount points.
FR1367(4/84)

Security Dealer Positions
Millions of dollars

1

Period

Net
Total

Tresuy
bills

Cash Positions
TreasY coupons

under
1 year

over
1 year

federal
agency

private
shor-term

March 25, 1985

Treasury
bills

Forward and Futures Positions
I
Treasuy coupon*

under
1 yewr

over
1 year

edral
agency

private
short-term

1,516

-907
-8,001

-4.411
-9,564

1983--Nigh
Low

20,858
-296

13,273
-3,461

1,579
-687

8,778
-3,148

12,088
4.013

17.005
8,839

1,654
-11.307

14
-95

1984--High
Low

32,155
5,107

15,653
-8,251

1,296
-1,038

6,854
-5,664

19,525
11,086

21,046
11,263

8,272
-14.456

131
-327

3,381
-986

-7,223
-10,679

-4
-13,053

1984--Jan.
Feb.
Nar.

12,472
9,287
15.936

10,815
9,658
4,619

1,083
949
811

667
-1.547
-2,626

11,398
12,532
16,151

12,788
13,349
12,764

-10,846
-8.774
-1,026

-15
-38
-10

-116
23
1,042

-7,474
-8,192
-9,552

-5.829
-8,673
-6,236

Apr.
May
June

14,400
14.163
16,483

2,929
-7,105
-2,631

-32
-291
-596

-1,643
-1,754
-3,248

16,649
16,849
15.999

13,065
12,525
14,457

-2,140
5,511
2,207

-13
-10
-21

476
347
1,448

-9,422
-9,676
-9,937

-5,462
-2,233
-1,195

July
Aug.
Sept.

12,355
11,499
17,976

-2,382
4,542
10,316

-604
-89
310

-3,391
-1,184
623

16,040
16,098
14.063

14,751
15,556
17,695

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

-89
-240
-122

2,800
2,504
2,156

-9,650
-9,073
-8.334

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

Oct.
Nov.
Dec.

21,955
19,123
26,261

11,649
9,772
13.871

116
-487
-416

2.649
5,087
4,765

13,168
16,106
18,471

16,285
17,950
19,178

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

-72
-76
59

2,154
539
-389

-8,815
-9,229
-8,304

-5.312
-11.991
-9,256

24,043
32,931*

11,629
12.441*

-111
851*

2,484
204*

19,429
19,606*

19,970
19,438*

-13.314
-3,638*

31
-10*

703
2,500*

-7,046
-8,165*

-9.669
-10,295*

1985--Jan.

Fe b.

-3,270

1984--Dec.

19
26

24,461
32,155

13,585
15,653

-419
-662

3,592
6,854

18,438
18,619

18,580
21,064

-12,273
-14,456

-10
18

-203
-709

-8,308
-7,737

-8.522
-6,487

1985--Jan.

Z
9
16
23
30

34,737
31,204
19,289
19,580
23,780

13,896
12,927
9,597
11,245
12,526

-253
-192
-391
-6
100

6,479
6,063
2.593
427
524

19,166
19,139
18.289
18,886
20,934

21,423
21,623
19,233
18,349
19,960

-12,671
-13.049
-14,946
-13,635
-12,507

3
-53
-39
-12
-28

-33
-373
295
1,898

-7,699
-7,774
-7,618
-6,348
-6,219

-5.574
-7,108
-7,725
-10,451
-13,409

6
13
20
27

23,453
24.432
31,038
45,027*

12,201
10,506
12,771
13,495*

357
713
851
1.132*

-787
32
218
996*

21,007
20,007
18,846
18,803*

21,649
19,624
19,523
18,434*

-9.562
-6.835
-3,049
15.68*

-18
-27
-11
-I*

1,856
2,953
2,225
2,644*

-7,683
-8,169
-8,243
-8,255*

-14,566
-14.372
-12,094
-3.790*

6
13
20

53,395*
51,824*
44,961*

14,297*
14,672*
13,797*

2.119*
1,750*
1,155*

-1,789*
-4,970*
-6,687*

20,157*
20,366*
19,361*

18,483*
16,182*
14,585*

3,809*
2,769*
2,127*

19
-6*

3,647*
4.405*

-8,818*
-8.750*
-8,311*

Feb.

Mar.

NOTE: Govemrent securities dealer cash positions consist of securities already delivered, commitments to buy (ll)
securities on an outright basis for immediate delivery (5 business days or less).
and certain "whenilaued" securities for delayed delivery (more thn 5 business days). Futures and forward positions liclude all other commitments involving delayed delivery; lutures contracts are arrang.
ed on organized exchanges.
1.

Cash plus forward plus futures positions in Treasury, federal agency, and privale short-term
securities.
Strictly confidential

1,126

1.471*
5,406*
4.310*

STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL (FR)
CLASS II-FOMC

Net Changes in System Holdings of Securities1
Millions of dollars, not seasonally adjusted

March 25, 1985
Treasury
bills net2
change

Period

1980
1981
1982
1983
1984

Treasury coupons net purchases
5-10

-3,052
5,337
5,698
13,068
3,779

2,138
1,702
1,794
1,896
1,938

1983--QTR.

III
IV

4,617
4,738

1984--QTR.

I
II
III
IV

-1,168
491
-424
4,880

1984--Sept.

3,178

Oct.
Nov.
Dec.

-2,993
4,463
3,410

Federal agencies net purchases

over 10

total

11l
179
107
183
41

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

481
820

24
.51

808

!77

1,130

64

within
1-year

I

1-5

over 10

5-10

Net change
outright

4

total
668
494

975
1,474

5,439
6,120

9,412
-10,739

-300
1,484
-600
1,657

-1,555
1,918
169
6,432

-286
70
1,982
-316

-

-

1,475
182

--

-

-100

164

--

-100

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

-600

335

Net RPs s

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

217
133

-

-4,268
2,362

1985--Jan.
Feb.

1-5

within
1-year

3

--

--

--

-17

3,777

-2,312

-3,007
5,848
3,591

-3,805
3,612
-123

-4,368
2,345

-2,315
3,095

1984--Dec.

19
26

371
234

112

--

--

-

112

482
234

351
2,059

1985--Jan.

2
9
16
23
30

285

70

-

--

--

70

355

-931
-2,158
-630

-931
-2,258
-630

4,791
-5,865
3,528
-5,120
18

Feb.

6
13
20
27

-584
-374
341
2,128

-584
-392
341
2,128

727
2,464
383
-5,003

Mar.

6
13
20

801
-1,054

2,227
-1,054

2,507
974
-1,287

LEVEL--Mar.

21

69.3

-

-100

-

--

-100

1,426

37.3

14.5

20.7

89.5

2.6

4.2

1.3

.4

170.3

5 In addition to the net purchases of securities, also reflects changes in System holdings of bankers'
1 Change from end-of period to end of period.
acceptances, direct Treasury borrowing from the System and redemptions (-) of agency and Trea
2 Outright transactions in market and with foreign accounts, and redemptions (-) in bill auctions,
sury coupon issues.
3 Outright transactions in market and with foreign accounts, and short-term notes acquired in ex6 Includes changes in RPs (+), matched sale-purchase transactions (-), and matched purchase sale
change for maturing bills. Excludes redemptions, maturity shifts, rollovers of maturing coupon
transactions (+).
issues, and direct Treasury borrowing from the System.
4 Outright transactions in market and with foreign accounts only. Excludes redemptions and maturity
shifts.