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At end-2017, there were no SNB monetary policy repo transactions outstanding. On the secured interbank market of SIX, in the Swiss franc segment, the average outstanding volume in the fourth quarter of 2017 was around CHF 16 billion. The corresponding volume on the unsecured interbank market was estimated as being significantly lower. Already in 2008, during the financial crisis, there was a first shift from the unsecured to the secured money market. Following the massive expansion of liquidity in August 2011, call money turnover in the secured and unsecured Swiss franc money market fell sharply. Activity on the secured money market subsequently recovered slightly, while the unsecured money market stagnated. In 2017, trading activity on the repo market remained minimal, due to low money market rates and high levels of Swiss franc liquidity. The introduction of negative interest by the SNB did, however, lead to a moderate revival of turnover. Institutions whose sight deposits at the SNB were above the relevant exemption threshold reduced their account balances (e.g. via repo transactions), while other institutions which had not yet exhausted their exemption threshold increased their balances.
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