Jonathan Witmer - Latest

• Following the Money: Evidence for the Portfolio Balance Channel of Quantitative Easing

  Staff Working Paper 2018-33 Itay Goldstein, Jonathan Witmer, Jing Yang

  Recent research suggests that quantitative easing (QE) may affect a broad range of asset prices through a portfolio balance channel. Using novel security-level holding data of individual US mutual funds, we establish evidence that portfolio rebalancing occurred both within and across funds.

  Content Type(s): Staff research, Staff working papers Topic(s): Monetary policy, Monetary policy implementation, Monetary policy transmission JEL Code(s): E, E5, E58, G, G2, G23

• Monetary Policy Implementation in a Negative Rate Environment

  Staff Working Paper 2017-25 Michael Boutros, Jonathan Witmer

  Monetary policy implementation could, in theory, be constrained by deeply negative rates since overnight market participants may have an incentive to invest in cash rather than lend to other participants.

  Content Type(s): Staff research, Staff working papers Topic(s): Interest rates, Monetary policy framework, Monetary policy implementation JEL Code(s): E, E4, E40, E42, E43, G, G0

• Strategic Complementarities and Money Market Fund Liquidity Management

  Staff Working Paper 2017-14 Jonathan Witmer

  Following the financial crisis, there has been increased regulatory focus on the management of liquidity in mutual funds and, specifically, whether funds hold enough liquidity to guard against the potential for investor runs.

  Content Type(s): Staff research, Staff working papers Topic(s): Financial institutions, Financial markets JEL Code(s): F, F3, F30, G, G0, G01, G1, G18, G2, G20
• May 16, 2016

  Estimating Canada’s Effective Lower Bound

  Bank of Canada Review - Spring 2016 Jonathan Witmer, Jing Yang

  Recently, the Bank of Canada has estimated the effective lower bound (ELB) on its policy interest rate to be about -50 basis points. This article outlines the analysis that underpins that estimate by quantifying the costs of storing and using cash in Canada. It also explores how some international markets have adapted to negative interest rates, issues surrounding their implementation, as well as their transmission to other interest rates in the economy. Finally, it discusses theoretical ideas on how the ELB could be reduced further.

  Content Type(s): Publications, Bank of Canada Review articles Topic(s): Monetary policy framework, Monetary policy implementation, Monetary policy transmission JEL Code(s): D, D5, D53, E, E4, E43, E5, E52, E58

• Estimating Canada’s Effective Lower Bound

  Staff Analytical Note 2015-2 Jonathan Witmer, Jing Yang

  In 2009, the Bank of Canada set its effective lower bound (ELB) at 25 basis points (bps). Given the recent experience of Sweden, Denmark, Switzerland and the euro area with negative interest rates, we examine the economics of negative interest rates and suggest that cash storage costs are the source of a negative lower bound on interest rates.

  Content Type(s): Staff research, Staff analytical notes Topic(s): Central bank research, Monetary policy framework, Monetary policy implementation JEL Code(s): D, D5, D53, E, E4, E41, E43, E5, E58
• June 11, 2015

  Canadian Open-End Mutual Funds: An Assessment of Potential Vulnerabilities

  Financial System Review - June 2015 Sandra Ramirez, Jesus Sierra, Jonathan Witmer

  The authors examine the liquidity and leverage characteristics of Canadian long-term, open-end mutual funds in terms of their potential systemic effects on the Canadian mutual fund sector and on the Canadian financial system more broadly. In their overall assessment of this sector, they consider the regulation, market size and ownership structure of mutual funds in Canada and provide observations about the industry globally.

  Content Type(s): Publications, Financial System Review articles Topic(s): Financial institutions, Financial markets JEL Code(s): G, G2, G23, G28

• Liquidity and Central Clearing: Evidence from the CDS Market

  Staff Working Paper 2012-38 Joshua Slive, Jonathan Witmer, Elizabeth Woodman

  An international initiative to increase the use of central clearing for OTC derivatives emerged as one of the reactions to the 2008 financial crisis. The move to central clearing is a fundamental change in the structure of the market.

  Content Type(s): Staff research, Staff working papers Topic(s): Financial markets JEL Code(s): G, G3, G30, G38

• Does the Buck Stop Here? A Comparison of Withdrawals from Money Market Mutual Funds with Floating and Constant Share Prices

  Staff Working Paper 2012-25 Jonathan Witmer

  Recent reform proposals call for an elimination of the constant net asset value (NAV) or “buck” in money market mutual funds to reduce the occurrence of runs. Outside the United States, there are several countries that have money market mutual funds with and without constant NAVs.

  Content Type(s): Staff research, Staff working papers Topic(s): Financial markets, Financial stability, Market structure and pricing JEL Code(s): F, F3, F30, G, G0, G01, G1, G18, G2, G20
• June 22, 2011

  Access to Central Clearing Services for Over-the-Counter Derivatives

  Financial System Review - June 2011 Carolyn A. Wilkins, Jonathan Witmer, Joshua Slive

  Content Type(s): Publications, Financial System Review articles
• November 18, 2010

  Trends in Issuance: Underlying Factors and Implications

  Bank of Canada Review - Autumn 2010 Jonathan Witmer

  Trends in debt issuance have changed significantly over the past decade, both prior to the financial crisis and subsequently.

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