Financial markets

• May 13, 1998

  Canada-U.S. long-term interest differentials in the 1990s

  Bank of Canada Review - Spring 1998 Kevin Clinton

  Long-term Canada-U.S. interest spreads have changed remarkably during the 1990s. The unusually wide spreads of the first half of the decade have given way to an unprecedented run of negative yield differentials. In this article, the author examines the conceptual aspects of yields on international assets and their application to the Canada-U.S. situation. Prior to 1995, investors were unsure that, over the long run, inflation would meet the targets set by the government and the Bank. Policy credibility was undermined by large budget deficits and political uncertainty. In the second half of the decade, confidence was re-established as the fiscal positions of governments improved, long-run price stability became established, and political concerns about Quebec lessened. As long as these fundamentals hold, long-term rates should remain relatively low, even when short-term rates rise.

  Content Type(s): Publications, Bank of Canada Review articles Topic(s): Financial markets, Interest rates, International topics
• May 11, 1998

  The use of forward rate agreements in Canada

  Bank of Canada Review - Spring 1998 Jean-Yves Paquette, David Stréliski

  In this article, the authors identify forward rate agreements, or FRAs, as short-term interest rate guarantee instruments negotiated by two parties, one of which is typically a bank. In outlining the main features of FRAs, the authors contrast them with BAX contracts (futures contracts on bankers' acceptances that are negotiated through the Montreal Exchange). The article then describes how market participants use FRAs to cover short-term interest rate risk. The final section deals with the way the Bank of Canada uses information from the FRA market as an indicator of interest rate expectations. Econometric models used to retrieve information from FRA rates, as well as the underlying assumptions, are discussed in an appendix.

  Content Type(s): Publications, Bank of Canada Review articles Topic(s): Financial markets, Monetary and financial indicators