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Implementation of Open Market Operations

Simon Potter
Executive Vice President, Markets Group
Manager, System Open Market Account

Working Group on Financial Markets of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago
September 5, 2014

Agenda






Federal Reserve’s operating framework
Execution of large-scale asset purchases
Implications for the Fed’s balance sheet
Implications for income
Implications for normalization

The views expressed are the presenter’s and not those of the Federal Reserve Bank of
New York or the Federal Reserve System.
2

Federal Reserve’s Operating Framework

for internal use only

Monetary Policy Formulation and Implementation
 Policy formulation
 Objectives established by Federal Reserve Act
 “Dual mandate” of maximum employment and price stability
 Policy implementation through open market operations (OMOs)
 FOMC votes on domestic policy directive
▫ Directive establishes an operating objective for OMOs

 Desk designs and conducts OMOs to achieve the objective
▫ SOMA Manager accountable to the FOMC
▫ Market monitoring supports policy formulation and execution

 Board of Governors regulates complementary policy tools
 Discount window (administered by Reserve Banks)
 Reserve requirements, interest on reserves, term deposits
4

Operating Framework for Policy Implementation
 Conventional operating objective for OMOs was target federal
funds rate (FFR)
 Desk adjusted supply of reserve balances to achieve target
▫ Repos/reverse repos address transitory reserve needs
▫ Treasury purchases offset currency growth

 With the FFR at the effective zero bound, operating objective
has shifted to adjustments in balance sheet size/composition
 Large-scale purchases of Treasuries, agency MBS and debt
 Maturity Extension Program
 Reinvestment policies
 Interest on reserves keeps FFR in target range w/o OMOs
 FOMC has also used communications to influence policy
5

Timeline of Asset Purchase Programs
USD, billions (par)

5,000

SOMA Domestic Securities Holdings
LSAP1

LSAP2

4,500

MEP

LSAP3
Start of LSAP3 for
agency MBS

4,000
3,500
3,000
2,500
2,000

Reinvest agency MBS/debt in MBS

1,500
1,000
500

Reinvest agency
MBS/debt in
Treasuries

0

Source: Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System

6

Large-scale Asset Purchases as a Policy Tool
 Purchases put downward pressure on longer-term interest
rates, ease financial conditions and stimulate economic activity
 Purchases are understood to work through several channels
 Portfolio balance effect
▫ Reduce stock of securities held by private sector
▫ Remove duration risk and prepayment risk from market
▫ Drive risk premiums lower than they would otherwise be

 Market functioning/liquidity effect (LSAP1)
▫ Provide consistent and significant market presence

 Signaling effect
▫ May be perceived as signal of FOMC intentions for FFR path

7

Execution of Large-scale Asset Purchases

for internal use only

Implications for Open Market Operations
 LSAPs raised new operational challenges for the Desk
 New, more complex instruments (agency MBS)
 Increased frequency and size of operations

 However, the fundamental approach has remained the same
 Carry out FOMC’s directives with efficiency and competence
 In doing so:
▫
▫
▫
▫
▫

Seek competitive pricing and cost efficiency
Prudently manage risks
Be mindful of disruptions to financial markets
Be consistent, predictable and transparent
Innovate and adjust operations as needed

 Same attention will apply to tools used during normalization
9

Treasury and Agency MBS Purchase Operations
Treasuries

Agency MBS

longer-term Treasuries

newly-issued agency MBS

secondary market

TBA market

planned by maturity sector

roughly proportional to
anticipated gross issuance

FedTrade

Tradeweb  FedTrade

single maturity range

multiple coupons w/in
single MBS settlement class

Auction Style

multi-security, multi-price
auction

simultaneous, single-security
multi-price auctions

Concentration Limit

70% of individual security

N/A

relative value
market prices

market prices

primary dealers

primary dealers

TOC pilot program
completed

MOC pilot program
accepting applicants

none

dollar rolls
margining regime
CUSIP aggregation

Design

Type of Securities
Market
Purchase Distribution
Trading Platform

Operations

Scope of Operation

Other

Counterparties

Selection Criteria
Standing Counterparties
Small Firms

Additional Considerations

10

Coupon Distribution of SOMA Agency MBS Purchases
Monthly SOMA Purchases of 30-Year Agency MBS
100%

2.5%

3.0%

3.5%

4.0%

4.5%

90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%

Source: FRBNY

11

Agency MBS Operations in FedTrade
 Agency MBS operations moved to FedTrade in April 2014
 Multi-year effort to expand proprietary system’s capabilities
 Strategic objectives were quickly realized
 Increase efficiency
 Enhance transparency
 Reduce operational and information security risk
 Dollar rolls still conducted over commercial trading platform

12

Additional Operational Considerations
 Market functioning
 Monitor effects of purchases on market conditions, results
 Conduct securities lending and dollar rolls
 Transparency
 Release planned operation schedules in advance
 Release aggregate operational results and prices paid
 Release summary of individual transaction details monthly
 Release full transaction details with a 2-year lag
 Operational risk management and resiliency
 Ensure robust controls
 Provide end-to-end resiliency for mission-critical operations
13

SOMA Holdings as a Share of Outstanding Supply
Percent

SOMA Treasury Holdings
August 2014

Percent

50

50

40

40

30

30

20

20

10

10

0

0

Years to Maturity/Security Type
Sources: FRBNY, U.S. Treasury Department

SOMA Agency MBS Holdings
August 2014

Coupon (percent)
Sources: FRBNY, eMBS
14

Implications for the Fed’s Balance Sheet

for internal use only

Evolution of the Federal Reserve’s Balance Sheet
Assets

Liabilities and Capital

USD, billions

USD, billions

5,000

5,000
Treasuries

4,500
4,000

Agency Debt
Agency MBS

FR Notes

4,500
4,000

Reserve Balances
Other Liabilities** + Capital

Other Assets*

3,500

3,500

3,000

3,000

2,500

2,500

2,000

2,000

1,500

1,500

1,000

1,000

500

500

0
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
* Includes DW, crisis facilities, central bank liquidity swaps,
foreign portfolio, and unamortized premiums and discounts.

Source: Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System

0
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
** Includes Treasury accounts and reverse repos.

16

Distribution of SOMA Treasury Holdings
SOMA Treasury Holdings by Maturity/Sector

Percent

80

August 2007

August 2014

70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
< 3 years

3-6
years

6 - 10
years

10 - 30
years

TIPS

FRNs

Source: FRBNY
17

Distribution of SOMA Agency MBS Holdings
August 27, 2014
Total = $1,678 billion (settled)
Issuer

Freddie Mac

Fannie Mae

Term*

Coupon

Ginnie Mae

30-year

≤2.5%

Vintage

Pre-2009

0%

3%

2010

2011

20%

15-year

3.5%

2012

40%

≥4%

4%

2013

60%

2014

80%

100%

*Includes <1% in 10-year and 20-year agency MBS, which may be delivered into 15- and 30-year TBA contracts, respectively.

Source: FRBNY

18

SOMA Portfolio Risk Measures
USD, billions

Duration and 10-Year Equivalents of SOMA Portfolio

3,500

Years

9
10-Year Equivalents - Total SOMA Portfolio (LHS)

3,000

Duration - SOMA Treasury Portfolio (RHS)

2,500

8
7

2,000
6
1,500
1,000

5

500

4

0

3

Source: FRBNY
19

Implications for Income

for internal use only

SOMA Net Income and Fed Remittances to Treasury
USD, billions

100

SOMA Net Income

Remittances

90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0

Source: FRBNY
21

Portfolio Projection Exercise: Baseline Assumptions
 July 2014 Survey of Primary Dealers (FRBNY) median results
 Asset purchases continue to taper, end in October 2014
 FFR target lifts off in Q3-2015
 Normalization framework*
▫ IOER and ON RRPs
$350 billion in ON RRPs immediately after liftoff
– Spread of 20 bps between IOER and ON RRP rates
–

▫ Reinvestments end after FFR liftoff (Q1-2016)
▫ No MBS sales

 June 2014 Blue Chip Financial Forecasts Survey consensus
 FFR target lifts off in Q3-2015, rises to 3.8% over long run
 10-year Treasury yield rises gradually to ~5% by early 2019
 Currency and capital assumptions from Fed staff research**
* July SPD preceded the July 29-30, 2014, FOMC meeting; minutes to this meeting reportedly led market participants to
expect a wider IOER-ON RRP spread. ** Carpenter et al, “The Federal Reserve’s Balance Sheet: A Primer and
Projections,” Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System FEDS no. 2013-01, January 2013.

22

Projected Path of SOMA Domestic Securities Portfolio
USD, billions

4,500
4,000
3,500
3,000
2,500
2,000
1,500
1,000
500

Historical Values

Projections (rounded)

0

Source: FRBNY staff projection (August 2014)
23

Projected SOMA Net Income
USD, billions

120
100
80
60
40
20
Historical Values

Projections (rounded)

0

Source: FRBNY staff projection (August 2014)
24

Implications for Normalization

for internal use only

Normalization Tools
 The Fed has developed and tested tools to “normalize” policy
 Interest on excess reserves (IOER)
 Overnight reverse repos (ON RRPs)
 Term Deposit Facility (TDF)
 Term reverse repos (term RRPs)
 Asset sales
 Tools may be used towards different ends
 Control short-term rates with an elevated level of reserves
 Drain reserve balances

26

FOMC Communications on Normalization


Considerable agreement on framework described in July 2014 FOMC minutes
 FOMC says it intends to provide more information later this year



Normalizing the stance and conduct of policy
 FFR remains key policy rate
▫ Target range of 25 bps at liftoff and for some time thereafter

 IOER adjustments as primary tool to move FFR and influence other rates
 ON RRP facility helps firm floor under rates during normalization
▫ Facility described as temporary and limited in scale

 Initially, IOER rate at top of FFR range and ON RRP rate at bottom


Normalizing the size and composition of the balance sheet
 In long run, reduce balance sheet to smallest level needed for efficiency
▫ Portfolio should consist primarily of Treasuries

 Reduce or end reinvestments sometime after liftoff
 Anticipate no MBS sales, except perhaps to eliminate residual holdings
27

FOMC Resolutions Authorizing ON RRP Exercise
 Through temporary resolutions, the FOMC has authorized the
New York Fed to conduct a series of fixed-rate ON RRPs
according to the following terms
Approval Date

Terms

Sep 17, 2013

•
•
•
•

Fixed rate may vary from 0 to 5 basis points
Maximum allotment of $1 billion/day per counterparty
SOMA Manager will inform FOMC in advance of changes
Operations authorized through Jan 29, 2014

Dec 17, 2013

•

Maximum allotment cap raised to $3 billion/day per counterparty

Jan 28, 2014

•
•
•

Fixed rate may vary from 0 to 5 basis points
No stated allotment cap per counterparty
Changes in offered rate or per-counterparty bid limit requires
approval of the FOMC Chair
SOMA Manager will notify FOMC in advance of changes
Operations authorized through Jan 30, 2015

•
•

28

Secured Overnight Interest Rates
Basis points

30

Treasury GCF Repo Index

25

ON RRP Fixed Rate

FOMC authorizes extension
of ON RRP exercise

20
15
10
5
0

Sources: FRBNY, DTCC
29

ON RRP Exercise: Operation Results
ON RRP Allotment vs. Rate Spread
(since $10 bn cap/counterparty)

ON RRP Participation
USD, billions

400
350

Month/Quarter-end Allotment (LHS)
Allotment (LHS)

# of bidders

USD, billions

140

400

120

350

Bidders (RHS)
300

Q2-2014
end

300

100

250

250
80

200

200
60

150

150
40

100

100

50

20

50

0

0

0
-2

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Treasury GCF Repo Index less
ON RRP Rate (bps)
Source: FRBNY

Sources: FRBNY, DTCC

30

ON RRP Counterparties
 Broad set of RRP counterparties participates in exercise
 140 counterparties currently eligible
▫ 22 primary dealers
▫ 118 expanded RRP counterparties
94 2a-7 money market funds (MMFs) (32 government; 62 prime)
– 18 depository institutions
– 6 government-sponsored enterprises
–

 Counterparty observations
 All types of counterparties participate
 Largest take-up from money market funds (MMFs)
 Some bids awarded at maximum limit
▫ 64 instances since increase to $10 billion cap on April 7, 2014
31

ON RRP Exercise: Take-up by Counterparty Type
USD, billions

Daily Allotment in ON RRPs by Counterparty Type

350
300

MMFs

FOMC authorizes extension of
ON RRP exercise

GSEs
250
200

Primary Dealers
Banks

150
100
50
0

Source: FRBNY
32

ON RRP Exercise: Take-up by Counterparty Type
Share of Total Participation
in ON RRP Exercise Operations to Date
MMFs-Gov 60%
49% MMFs-Prime
40% MMFs-Gov

MMFs-Prime 22%
GSEs 10%
PDs 6%
Banks 2%
Non-Quarter-End Dates

7% GSEs
3% PDs
1% Banks
Quarter-End Dates

Source: FRBNY
33

Term Deposit Facility: Exercise Results
Date

Term
(days)

Max Award
Amount
(billions)

Rate

Size
(billions)

# of
participants

Jan 13, 2014

28

$1.25

0.26%

$12.8

31

Mar 3, 2014

7

$1.25

0.26%

$13.5

26

Mar 10, 2014

7

$1.25

0.26%

$15.2

29

Mar 17, 2014

7

$1.25

0.26%

$15.4

27

Mar 24, 2014

7

$1.25

0.26%

$14.3

27

May 19, 2014

7

$3.00

0.26%

$27.6

35

May 27, 2014

7

$5.00

0.26%

$42.9

33

Jun 2, 2014

7

$7.00

0.26%

$59.1

35

Jun 9, 2014

7

$10.00

0.26%

$77.8

40

Jun 16, 2014

7

$10.00

0.27%

$92.7

45

Jun 23, 2014

7

$10.00

0.28%

$92.4

46

Jun 30, 2014

7

$10.00

0.29%

$124.9

58

Jul 7 2014

7

$10.00

0.30%

$152.8

75
34

Money Market Data Collection
 New data collection requirement effective April 1, 2014
 Report of Selected Money Market Rates (FR 2420)
 Collects transaction-level data on unsecured borrowing
Transaction Type

Reporting Entities*

Submission Frequency

Federal Funds

U.S. banks and thrifts,
FBO branches

Daily, previous day’s
transactions by 7:00 am

Eurodollars

U.S banks and thrifts

Daily, previous day’s
transactions by 7:00 am

Certificates of Deposits

U.S. banks and thrifts,
FBO branches

Daily, activity from two
days prior by 2:00 pm

*

U.S. banks with > $26 billion in assets report the activity of their U.S. operations and foreign branches with > $2 billion
in assets. FBO branches with > $900 million in third-party assets each report separately.

35

Questions

for internal use only