2. MONETARY POLICY:
DEFINITION
“Monetary policy refers to actions undertaken by a
central bank to regulate the money supply and
influence interest rates in order to achieve
macroeconomic objectives.”
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3. MONETARY POLICY COMMITTEE:
CONSTITUTION - PAKISTAN
The committee members include:
Governor SBP (Chairperson)
3 Senior Executives (Nominated by Chairperson)
3 Members of SBP board
3 External Members (Nominated by GoP)
5. MONETARY POLICY:
OBJECTIVES
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Price Stability: Maintaining stable prices by controlling inflation is a
key goal of monetary policy. Rapid price increases erode purchasing
power and can lead to economic instability
Full Employment: Monetary policy aims to achieve maximum
sustainable employment. Central banks influence economic activity
by adjusting interest rates and credit availability. Lowering interest
rates can stimulate borrowing, spending, business investment, and
job creation.
Economic Growth: Central banks promote sustainable economic
growth by maintaining stable financial conditions. Adjusting interest
rates and influencing credit availability encourage investment,
consumption, and overall economic activity.
Exchange Rate Stability: Central banks may target exchange rate
stability in economies with flexible exchange rates. Exchange rate
fluctuations impact trade balances, inflation, and financial stability.
Central banks intervene in foreign exchange markets to stabilize
rates or implement policies indirectly affecting currency values.
6. MONETARY POLICY: TOOLS
Open market operations: buy or sell government securities to
influence the money supply and interest rates in the economy.
Reserve requirements: Mandated amounts of reserves that banks
must hold against their deposits, influencing the amount of lending and
money creation by banks.
Discount Rates: The interest rate at which commercial banks borrow
funds from the central bank, affecting the cost of borrowing and
lending throughout the economy.
Currency Intervention: Direct buying or selling of domestic currency
in foreign exchange markets to influence exchange rates and stabilize
the currency's value.
Quantitative Easing (QE): Large-scale purchases of financial assets
by central banks to increase the money supply and lower long-term
interest rates.
Forward Guidance: shapes market expectations and economic
behavior by communicating future monetary policy intentions,
including interest rate decisions, asset purchases, and other policy
actions.
8. MONETARY POLICY: DISCOUNT RATE
Banking sector generates revenue through overnight
lending.
This Repo and Reverse Repo lending is governed by
the interest rate corridor.
The interest rate corridor operates between 200 Bps.
Policy Rate:
22%
SBP Overnight
Repo (Floor):
21%
SBP Overnight
Reverse Repo
(Ceiling): 23%
9. MONETARY POLICY: OMO
Open Market Operation is a tool used by a Central
Bank (or monetary authority) to inject or mop-up funds,
based on the liquidity requirements, from the banking
system via the purchase or sale of eligible securities.
4 Types of OMOs:
Injection – Reverse Repo: (To tackle short market
positions)
Mop-up – Repo (To tackle long market positions)
Outright Sale or Purchase (long-term liquidity mgt.)
Bai-Muajjal (Islamic mode - Deferred Payment)
OMOs conducted in shorter tenors (e.g. 7 to 14 days).
10. MONETARY POLICY: RESERVE REQUIREMENT
Reserve requirements: Mandated amounts of
reserves that banks must hold against their
deposits, influencing the amount of lending and
money creation by banks.
Cash Reserve Requirement (CRR) is a percentage
of banks total liabilities or some subset thereof
which banks are required to hold as reserves at the
Central Bank.
In Pakistan, All banks (including Islamic
Banks/Branches) must maintain CRR at an average
of 6.0% of total demand liabilities
Banks are required to maintain 5 percent as cash
reserve and 10 percent as special cash reserves
against foreign currency deposits.
11. MONETARY POLICY: CURRENCY INTERVENTION
Direct buying or selling of domestic currency in
foreign exchange markets to influence exchange
rates and stabilize the currency's value.
Intervention can be in READY or FORWARD
In Pakistan SBPs role is to:
To manage the exchange rate mechanism.
Regulate inter-bank forex transactions and
monitor the foreign exchange risk of the banks.
Keep the exchange rate stable.
Manage and maintain country's foreign exchange
reserves.
12. MONETARY POLICY: FORWARD GUIDANCE
“This involves providing
guidance on future interest
rate decisions, asset
purchases, or other policy
actions, helping to shape
market participants'
expectations”
Important tool used in forward guidance:
Real interest rates:
The real interest rate is the nominal interest rate
adjusted for inflation. It represents the actual
purchasing power gained or lost from an investment
or loan after accounting for inflation.
R = Nominal Interest Rate−Inflation Rate
Central banks aim for a positive real interest rate
when deciding on monetary policy.
15. WHAT IS THE ROLE OF MONETARY
POLICY IN PROMOTING ECONOMIC
GROWTH?
Keeping inflation low and stable
Maintaining price stability reduces uncertainty
surrounding price changes, fostering an economic
environment conducive to expansion in line with
production capacity.
Low and stable inflation is established as a pre-
condition for securing growth
By adhering to these principles, monetary policy can effectively
support sustainable economic growth and employment creation while
mitigating risks associated with inflation volatility.
16. POLL
Why doesn’t the central bank simply print
enough money to pay off national debt?
17. WHY DOESN’T CENTRAL BANK
SIMPLY PRINT ENOUGH MONEY
TO PAY OFF NATIONAL DEBT?
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Inflationary Impact of Printing Money to Pay Off Debt: Inflation as it
increases the money supply without a corresponding increase in the
production of goods and services.
Diminished Value of Domestic Currency: reduction in the value of
domestic currency as the increased money supply diminishes its
purchasing power.
Risk of Hyperinflation: In extreme cases, this practice can lead to
hyperinflation, which severely undermines economic growth and the well-
being of the populace.
Currency Depreciation: The increase in the money supply relative to
other currencies can lead to depreciation of the domestic currency against
foreign currencies.
Negative Repercussions: Detrimental effects on economic stability,
investment, and overall prosperity.
18. NEGATIVE REPERCUSSION:
HISTORIC EXAMPLES
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Germany's experience after World War I, where large-scale
money printing led to rampant inflation, serves as a classic
example.
Zimbabwe's recent history also illustrates the negative
consequences of excessive money printing, leading to
hyperinflation and severe economic hardships.
19. CAUTIONARY TALE:
SILICON VALLEY BANK (SVB)
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Timeline:
Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), the 16th largest bank in
America had assets worth $ 209 B.
Following significant deposit growth, SVB invested
funds in long-term treasury bonds, owing to
relatively low risk.
The Federal Reserves increased interest rates in
response to high inflation, SVB’s bonds became
riskier investments.
Investors could now buy bonds at higher interest
rates, Silicon Valley Bank’s bonds declined in value.
To consolidate its portfolio, SVB sold some of its
investments at a loss of $1.8 billion.
This move led to a ratings downgrade by Moody.
This triggered a bank run, with total attempted
withdrawal of $42 B.
20. CAUTIONARY TALE:
SILICON VALLEY BANK (SVB)
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Bottomline:
SVB misread forward looking policy rate sentiments and
made ill-advised investments.
Aftermath:
US government announced the Bank Term Funding
Program (BTFP), which now offers loans (Up to 1 year)
to banks to meet depositors' needs.
The program also helps to ensure that, when banks
need cash, they won’t be forced to quickly sell high-
quality securities to get it.
21. Challenges and Trade-offs in Implementing
Monetary Policy
Balancing Objectives: challenge of balancing multiple objectives such as price stability, full
employment, and economic growth while maintaining financial stability.
Time Lag: Monetary policy actions may have a delayed effect on the economy, making it
challenging to accurately time policy interventions to address emerging financial stability risks.
Unintended Consequences: creating asset bubbles or excessive risk-taking behavior in financial
markets.
Global Interconnectedness: increasingly interconnected globally, making it challenging for central
banks to address financial stability risks that originate from abroad.
Regulatory Arbitrage: Financial institutions may seek to circumvent regulations or exploit
loopholes, leading to challenges in effectively implementing policies aimed at enhancing financial
stability.
Data Limitations: Limited availability or reliability of data on financial markets and institutions can
hinder central banks' ability to accurately assess and monitor systemic risks.
Communication Challenges: Communicating complex monetary policy decisions and their
implications for financial stability to the public and financial markets can be challenging, potentially
leading to market volatility or misinterpretation.
Political Pressures: Central banks may face political pressures to prioritize short-term economic
objectives over long-term financial stability concerns, creating tensions in policy implementation.
Price Stability: Maintaining stable prices and controlling inflation is often a primary objective of monetary policy. Central banks aim to keep inflation within a target range to ensure the stability of the overall economy and preserve the purchasing power of the currency.
Full Employment: Promoting maximum sustainable employment is another key goal of monetary policy. By influencing interest rates and overall economic activity, central banks seek to create conditions conducive to job creation and reduce unemployment to levels consistent with long-term growth potential.
Economic Growth: Central banks also aim to support sustainable economic growth by managing interest rates and credit conditions. By stimulating or moderating borrowing and spending in the economy, monetary policy can help smooth out economic cycles and promote long-term prosperity.
Exchange Rate Stability: Maintaining stability in the foreign exchange market is important for trade and financial flows. While exchange rates are influenced by various factors beyond monetary policy, central banks may intervene to prevent excessive volatility or to address imbalances that could disrupt economic stability.
Financial Stability: Ensuring the stability of the financial system is another objective of monetary policy. Central banks monitor and address risks to financial stability, such as excessive leverage, asset bubbles, and systemic risks, through regulatory and supervisory measures as well as monetary policy tools.
Interest Rate Stability: Central banks also aim to promote stability in interest rates across various maturities. Stable interest rates support investment decisions, financial planning, and overall economic activity.
These objectives may vary depending on the specific mandate and circumstances of each central bank, but they generally reflect the broader goals of promoting macroeconomic stability, sustainable growth, and financial resilience.
Interest Rates: Central banks adjust benchmark interest rates to influence borrowing costs, spending, and investment in the economy. Lowering rates stimulates economic activity, while raising them helps curb inflation.
Open Market Operations (OMO): Central banks buy or sell government securities in the open market to adjust the money supply and influence interest rates. Buying securities injects money into the economy, while selling them withdraws money.
Reserve Requirements: Central banks mandate the amount of reserves banks must hold against deposits. Adjusting reserve requirements can affect the amount of money banks can lend and impact overall liquidity in the financial system.
Forward Guidance: Central banks provide guidance on future monetary policy intentions to influence market expectations. This can include signaling future interest rate decisions or policy actions to shape economic behavior.
Quantitative Easing (QE): In times of economic crisis or when traditional monetary policy tools are ineffective, central banks may engage in QE. This involves purchasing long-term securities to increase liquidity and lower long-term interest rates.
Discount Window Lending: Central banks offer short-term loans to commercial banks through the discount window. Adjusting the discount rate affects the cost of borrowing for banks and can influence lending behavior.
IRC is a monetary policy framework used by central banks to implement control over short-term interest rates within a predetermined range.
IRC helps the central bank maintain control over short-term interest rates by influencing market rates through operations such as open market operations (OMO) and repo operations. When market rates approach the upper or lower bounds of the corridor, the central bank intervenes in the money market to bring rates back within the desired range.
Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) is a monetary policy tool used by central banks to regulate the liquidity in the banking system. It mandates the portion of deposits that commercial banks are required to keep with the central bank in the form of cash reserves, thus reducing the amount of money banks can lend or invest.
As of my last update in January 2022, the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) for banks varies from country to country and is subject to change based on the monetary policy stance of the respective central bank and prevailing economic conditions.
For example, in India, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) sets the CRR for scheduled banks. As of my last update, the CRR for scheduled banks in India stood at 4% of their net demand and time liabilities (NDTL). However, this rate may have changed since then.
Similarly, in Pakistan, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) imposes reserve requirements on commercial banks, which include both CRR and other reserve ratios. The specific CRR for banks in Pakistan is determined by the SBP and may vary depending on the prevailing economic conditions and monetary policy objectives.
Currency intervention, also known as foreign exchange intervention or forex intervention, refers to the action taken by a central bank or monetary authority to influence the value of its currency in the foreign exchange market. These interventions can involve buying or selling domestic currency in exchange for foreign currency to stabilize exchange rates or achieve other monetary policy objectives. Here's a brief history of currency intervention:
Global Financial Crisis (2007-2009): Central banks intervened heavily in currency markets during the global financial crisis to mitigate the impact of financial market turmoil on exchange rates. Many countries engaged in coordinated interventions to stabilize currencies and restore market confidence.
Post-Financial Crisis Era: In the years following the global financial crisis, currency interventions remained a tool used by central banks to manage exchange rate fluctuations and support economic recovery efforts. Central banks in emerging markets often intervened to prevent rapid depreciation of their currencies.
Recent Years: Currency interventions have continued to occur in response to various economic and geopolitical developments, including trade tensions, capital flows, and currency manipulation concerns. Central banks typically provide limited information about their intervention activities to avoid signaling their intentions to the market.
Venezuela had 190% CPI in Jan 2024
Zimbabwe has policy rate of 130% as on Jan 2024
Due to risk of hyper inflation and currency depreciation.
Inflationary Impact of Printing Money to Pay Off Debt:
Printing money to pay off the national debt is likely to cause inflation as it increases the money supply without a corresponding increase in the production of goods and services.
Diminished Value of Domestic Currency:
Such actions effectively reduce the value of domestic currency as the increased money supply diminishes its purchasing power.
Risk of Hyperinflation:
In extreme cases, this practice can lead to hyperinflation, which severely undermines economic growth and the well-being of the populace.
Currency Depreciation:
The increase in the money supply relative to other currencies can lead to depreciation of the domestic currency against foreign currencies.
Historical Examples:
Germany's experience after World War I, where large-scale money printing led to rampant inflation, serves as a classic example.
Zimbabwe's recent history also illustrates the negative consequences of excessive money printing, leading to hyperinflation and severe economic hardships.
Negative Repercussions:
Inflationary pressures and currency depreciation resulting from printing money to pay off debt can have detrimental effects on economic stability, investment, and overall prosperity.