Liquidity Insights Overview

Liquidity Insights

Discover our vast array of liquidity insights covering global investment news and trends that may impact your cash portfolios

LATEST LIQUIDITY COMMENTARY

RBA hikes rates, but pivots from a “pre-set path”

At its monetary policy meeting on August 2, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA), in-line with expectations, hiked the base rate by 50bps to 1.85%, taking total rate hikes to 175bps over the past 4-months.

When does unusually large become usual?

On July 27, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) raised its Federal Funds Rate target range by 75 basis points (bps) to 2.25% - 2.50%. There were no dissenters.

The Monetary Authority of Singapore – an expected surprise of S$NEER hike

On July 14, the MAS announced it would tighten monetary policy by re-centering the S$NEER policy band upwards. While the timing of the MAS statement was a surprise, the market was expecting further policy actions.

The Reserve Bank of Australia delivered back-to-back 50bps rate hikes

At its monetary policy meeting on July 5, the RBA hiked its overnight cash rate by 50bps to 1.35%. This was also the third rate hike in the current cycle, and the first time ever the central bank has executed back-to-back 50bps hikes, reinforcing its inflation fighting credentials.

Fed gets aggressive on inflation

The Federal Open Market Committee matched market expectations for a 75bp increase to its target range, which now sits at 1.50%-1.75%. It also raised the Interest on Reserve Balances and the overnight Reverse Repo Rate by an equivalent amount to 1.65% and 1.55%, respectively.

The Reserve Bank of Australia: moving ahead of the curve?

On June 7, the RBA surprised the market by raising the Overnight Cash Rate by 50bps to 0.85%. This is the second rate hike in the current cycle, following a 25bps move in early May. The size of the rate hike also affirms the RBA’s desire to get ahead of the inflation fighting curve.

Tempered Expectations

The FOMC met market expectations for a 50bps increase to its target range, which now stands between 0.75% and 1.00%, and raised the Interest on Reserve Balances (IORB) and the overnight Reverse Repo Rate (RRP) by the same amount to 0.90% and 0.80% respectively.

The Reserve Bank of Australia’s hawkish turn

The RBA hiked its Overnight Cash Rate for the first time in over a decade at its 3rd May monetary policy meeting. The hike was more hawkish than expected.

PBOC’s muted monetary policy and its implications for CNY interest rates

The latest muted actions by the PBoC suggest the central bank is reaching the limits of monetary policy, which are expected to have direct implications for onshore interest rates.

Monetary Authority of Singapore – affirming its inflation fighting credentials

At its semi-annual policy meeting on 14 April, the MAS announced its decision to further tighten monetary policy. The announcement and upward revision to the MAS's growth and inflation outlook will have important implications for Singapore interest rates and cash investment opportunities.

Reserve Bank of Australia: From patience to pragmatism

At its monetary policy meeting on Tuesday 5th of April, the RBA left base rates unchanged at a record low of 0.1% whilst acknowledged that “inflation has picked up and a further increase is expected” in the accompanying comments. Its hawkish tilt and giving a clear hint to potential rate rises in the coming months.

Fed lift-off

On 15-16 March, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) held its two-day meeting and raised its federal funds rate target range by 25 basis points (bps) to 0.25%-0.5%, with one dissenting member calling for a 50bps increase.

The Reserve Bank of Australia: Stressing patience, confirming plausibility

At their first monetary policy meeting of 2022, the RBA acknowledged that the economy “remains resilient” despite the recent Omicron outbreak which has not derailed the recovery.

A surprise, pre-emptive policy hike by the Monetary Authority of Singapore

Singapore’s de-facto central bank hiked the slope of the S$NEER policy band, increasing the pace of appreciation. The unexpected hike was triggered by the strong inflation uptrend in recent days as well as a reassessment of Singapore’s growth and inflation expectations in 2022 by the MAS.

The PBOC's reluctant policy pivot - another 50bps Reserve Requirement Ratio cut

On December 7, the PBoC announced an unexpected 50bps Reserve Requirement Ratio (RRR) cut. The broad based cut will release significant liquidity into the financial system, while the resultant confirmation that policymakers are focused on stabilizing growth has boosted investor sentiment. CNY cash investors should pay attention to the PBoC’s rapid pivot from neutral to dovish monetary policy and the implications.

Inflation in Asia Pacific - A different phenomenon

Rising inflation concerns are amplifying developed market rate hike expectations; in contrast APAC central banks have benefitted from more muted CPI. The rationale for this difference has important implications for investors.

The Reserve Bank of Australia’s Crisis of Confidence

During October, the yield on the RBA’s yield curve control (YCC) target reference bond spiraled upwards and closed at 0.775%, well beyond the central bank’s 0.10% target. This was an unexpected reversal for a bond which was historically very stable with minimal central bank interventions, since the RBA first introduced the YCC program in March 2020.

MAS policy decision - a hawkish normalization

At its semi-annual monetary policy meeting, the Monetary Authority of Singapore surprised the market by raising slightly the slope of the S$NEER policy band, from zero percent previously.

RBA Tentative Tapering

The RBA announced its first tentative step towards tapering and eventual policy normalization.

PBOC latest deposit price reform – limited implications for cash investors

In June 2021, the People’s Bank of China (PBoC) announced changes to commercial banks’ mechanism for setting the time deposit ceiling from a multiplier method to a basis points method.

PBoC RRR Cut - A dovish policy signal

On 9 July 2021, the PBoC announced a 50bps RRR cut that will reduce bank funding costs and unleash a substantial quantity of liquidity support. The size of the rate cut surprised the market and confirmed the authority’s dovish pivot.