Foreign reserves management

• How foreign central banks can affect liquidity in the Government of Canada bond market

  Staff Analytical Note 2024-26 Patrick Aldridge, Jabir Sandhu, Sofia Tchamova

  We find that foreign central banks own a large share of Government of Canada (GoC) bonds and tend to hold their positions for longer than other types of asset managers. This buy-and-hold behaviour could offer benefits. For example, foreign central banks may be less likely than other asset managers to sell bonds and add to strains on market liquidity in periods of turmoil. However, foreign central banks’ buy-and-hold behaviour combined with their minimal lending of GoC bonds in securities-financing markets, as observed in our available data, can potentially lower liquidity because fewer GoC bonds are available for others to transact in secondary markets. Indeed, we find that higher levels of foreign central banks’ GoC bond holdings are related to lower liquidity.

  Content Type(s): Staff research, Staff analytical notes Research Topic(s): Exchange rates, Financial institutions, Financial markets, Financial stability, Foreign reserves management, International financial markets, Market structure and pricing JEL Code(s): E, E5, E58, F, F3, F30, F31, G, G0, G01, G1, G11, G12, G15, G2, G23

• Foreign Exchange Interventions: The Long and the Short of It

  Staff Working Paper 2022-25 Patrick Alexander, Sami Alpanda, Serdar Kabaca

  This paper studies the effects of foreign exchange (FX) interventions in a two-region model where governments issue both short- and long-term bonds. We find that the term premium channel dominates the trade balance channel in our calibrated model. As a result, the conventional beggar-thy-neighbor effects of interventions are overturned.

  Content Type(s): Staff research, Staff working papers Research Topic(s): Business fluctuations and cycles, Exchange rate regimes, Exchange rates, Foreign reserves management, International financial markets, International topics JEL Code(s): F, F3, F31, F33, F4, F41

• Updated Methodology for Assigning Credit Ratings to Sovereigns

  Staff Discussion Paper 2021-16 Karim McDaniels, Nico Palesch, Sanjam Suri, Zacharie Quiviger, John Walsh

  We update the Bank of Canada’s credit rating methodology for sovereigns, including our approach to assessing their fiscal position and monetary policy flexibility. We also explicitly consider climate-related factors.

  Content Type(s): Staff research, Staff discussion papers Research Topic(s): Credit risk management, Foreign reserves management JEL Code(s): F, F3, F31, G, G2, G24, G28, G3, G32
• October 7, 2021

  The long and short of it: A balanced vision for the international monetary and financial system

  Remarks (delivered virtually) Tiff Macklem Council on Foreign Relations Washington, D.C.

  Governor Tiff Macklem advocates for global coordination to strengthen the international monetary and financial system.

  Content Type(s): Press, Speeches and appearances, Remarks Research Topic(s): Development economics, Exchange rate regimes, Financial system regulation and policies, Foreign reserves management, International financial markets, International topics, Trade integration
• October 7, 2021

  Investing in global progress

  Speech summary Tiff Macklem Council on Foreign Relations Washington, D.C.

  Governor Tiff Macklem makes the case for greater cooperation to shape a stronger international monetary and financial system.

  Content Type(s): Press, Speeches and appearances, Speech summaries Research Topic(s): Development economics, Exchange rate regimes, Financial system regulation and policies, Foreign reserves management, International financial markets, International topics, Trade integration

• A Macroprudential Theory of Foreign Reserve Accumulation

  Staff Working Paper 2019-43 Fernando Arce, Julien Bengui, Javier Bianchi

  This paper proposes a theory of foreign reserves as macroprudential policy. We study an open-economy model of financial crises in which pecuniary externalities lead to overborrowing, and show that by accumulating international reserves, the government can achieve the constrained-efficient allocation.

  Content Type(s): Staff research, Staff working papers Research Topic(s): Balance of payments and components, Financial stability, Financial system regulation and policies, Foreign reserves management, International financial markets JEL Code(s): D, D5, D52, D6, D62, F, F3, F34
• February 6, 2019

  Taking Precautions: The Canadian Approach to Foreign Reserves Management

  Remarks Timothy Lane Peterson Institute for International Economics Washington, D.C.

  Deputy Governor Timothy Lane discusses how Canada manages its foreign exchange reserves.

  Content Type(s): Press, Speeches and appearances, Remarks Research Topic(s): Foreign reserves management

• Methodology for Assigning Credit Ratings to Sovereigns

  Staff Discussion Paper 2017-7 Philippe Muller, Jérôme Bourque

  The investment of foreign exchange reserves or other asset portfolios requires an assessment of the credit quality of investment counterparties. Traditionally, foreign exchange reserve and asset managers have relied on credit rating agencies (CRAs) as the main source for credit assessments.

  Content Type(s): Staff research, Staff discussion papers Research Topic(s): Credit risk management, Foreign reserves management JEL Code(s): F, F3, F31, G, G2, G24, G28, G3, G32

• Multilateral Development Bank Credit Rating Methodology: Overcoming the Challenges in Assessing Relative Credit Risk in Highly Rated Institutions Based on Public Data

  Staff Discussion Paper 2017-6 David Xiao Chen, Philippe Muller, Hawa Wagué

  The investment of foreign exchange reserves or other asset portfolios requires an assessment of the credit quality of counterparties. Traditionally, foreign exchange reserve managers and other investors have relied on credit rating agencies (CRAs) as the main source for credit assessments.

  Content Type(s): Staff research, Staff discussion papers Research Topic(s): Credit risk management, Foreign reserves management JEL Code(s): F, F3, F31, G, G2, G24, G28, G3, G32

• Capital Flows to Developing Countries: Is There an Allocation Puzzle?

  Staff Working Paper 2016-53 Josef Schroth

  Foreign direct investment inflows are positively related to growth across developing countries—but so are savings in excess of investment. I develop an explanation for this well-established puzzle by focusing on the limited availability of consumer credit in developing countries together with general equilibrium effects.

  Content Type(s): Staff research, Staff working papers Research Topic(s): Foreign reserves management, Interest rates, International financial markets JEL Code(s): E, E1, E13, E2, E21, F, F4, F43