A survey by The European Repo and Collateral Council of the International Capital Market Association (ICMA) calculating the amount of repo business outstanding on 7 December 2016 from the returns of 65 offices of 62 financial groups, sets the baseline figure for market size at EUR5,656 billion.
Using a consistent sample of banks that have contributed to the last the surveys, the market shows 0.8 per cent year on year growth and 2.4 per cent growth from the June 2016 survey. The size of the repo market remains static, with some seasonal fluctuations. Negligible real growth in the repo market, the mechanism by which collateral is moved around the financial system, at a time when demand for collateral is increasing is indicative of a market under stress.
The results of the 32nd survey point to increasing demand for collateral in the form of High Quality Liquid Assets (HQLA).
The demand for HQLA, was reflected in further growth in the share of government bonds in the repo market and an increase in the share of direct trading over electronic trading (to 60.6 per cent from 55.9 per cent in June 2016). There was also a lengthening of maturities to meet the regulatory horizon of the Liquidity Coverage Ratio. Direct trading provides the flexibility needed for such trades.
There was growth in cross-border repos with counterparties outside the eurozone. The demand for HQLA was reflected in a reversal in net flows, with counterparties outside the eurozone becoming net sellers of collateral to the rest of the market.
A further detailed study of conditions in the euro repo market at year end 2016 shows that market participants experienced extreme volatility and market dislocation as they tried to meet their needs for collateral in the form of HQLA to meet regulatory requirements. The study, produced by Andy Hill on behalf of the ICMA ERCC, is based on market data and interviews with repo market-makers, buy-side firms, and infrastructure providers.
It supports the view that the year-end break-down was the result of a perfect storm driven by heightened demand for high quality liquid assets, the ECB’s quantitative easing program, and further regulatory pressure on banks’ balance sheets resulting in scarcity of HQLA.
Closed for business: a post-mortem of the European repo market break-down over the 2016 year-end
Godfried De Vidts (pictured), Chairman of ICMA’s ERCC, says: ‘The 2016 year-end was the first real test for the market since the Lehman default and sovereign bond crisis (when the market functioned relatively effectively). If the extreme volatility and dislocations witnessed at the end of December are an indication of future market resilience, we should be concerned. Market behaviour since the year-end, and forward pricing pressures for the March quarter-end, would seem to suggest that we may be entering a new normal for the repo market. Turbulence in the repo market will ultimately be felt most by the pension funds, insurance companies and asset managers to whom citizens entrust their money. Since demand for HQLA, quantitative easing, and pressures on banks’ balance sheets are only set to increase, careful fine-tuning of some of the technical measures put in place by regulatory reforms, already being considered by the authorities, is fully justified.”
