Financial markets

• August 13, 1999

  Recent Initiatives in the Canadian Market for Government of Canada Securities

  Bank of Canada Review - Summer 1999 Nancy Harvey

  The initiatives reviewed by the author were undertaken to ensure a liquid and well-functioning market for Government of Canada securities in light of the significant shift in the government's financial position. They include changes made in 1998 by the Bank of Canada and the government to the rules governing auctions and to the Bank's surveillance of the auction process, changes to the treasury bill and bond programs, and implementation of a pilot buyback program for Government of Canada marketable bonds. In addition, the Investment Dealers Association of Canada adopted a code of conduct for the secondary market. These initiatives were well received by the market and appear to have had a positive impact. The Bank and the government are, however, continuing their search for ways to maintain and enhance the efficiency of this market.

  Content Type(s): Publications, Bank of Canada Review articles Topic(s): Financial markets
• August 12, 1999

  Recent Developments in Global Commodity Prices: Implications for Canada

  Bank of Canada Review - Summer 1999 Farid Novin, Gerald Stuber

  The authors examine the recent evolution of commodity prices. They discuss the factors behind the price declines that occurred between the summer of 1997 and the end of 1998, including the key supply factors and the drop in Asian demand caused by that region's concurrent financial and economic crisis. They then review the effects of the reduction in world commodity prices on economic activity in Canada. They point out that the depreciation of the Canadian dollar against the U.S. dollar, together with the continued strength of the U.S. economy, has partly offset the negative effects on Canadian aggregate demand.

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

• Greater Transparency in Monetary Policy: Impact on Financial Markets

  Technical Report No. 86 Philippe Muller, Mark Zelmer

  Measures have been taken by the Bank of Canada to increase the transparency of Canadian monetary policy. This paper examines whether the greater transparency has improved financial markets' understanding of the conduct of monetary policy.

  Content Type(s): Staff research, Technical reports Topic(s): Financial markets, Monetary policy implementation JEL Code(s): E, E5, E52, E58, G, G1, G14