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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Central banks act on credit fears | Central banks act on credit fears |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| The Federal Reserve, European Central Bank and central banks from the UK, Canada and Switzerland are to jointly help banks deal with the credit crunch. | The Federal Reserve, European Central Bank and central banks from the UK, Canada and Switzerland are to jointly help banks deal with the credit crunch. |
| They have each announced that they will provide billions in loans to banks in order to lower interest rates and ease the availability of credit. | They have each announced that they will provide billions in loans to banks in order to lower interest rates and ease the availability of credit. |
| The move was coordinated by the US Federal Reserve, which has already cut interest rates three times this year. | The move was coordinated by the US Federal Reserve, which has already cut interest rates three times this year. |
| It is a sign that despite rate cuts, banks are nervous about credit risks. | It is a sign that despite rate cuts, banks are nervous about credit risks. |
| This news just goes to illustrate again how serious the illiquidity issue in money markets has become Ian Kernohan, Economist, RLAM | This news just goes to illustrate again how serious the illiquidity issue in money markets has become Ian Kernohan, Economist, RLAM |
| "This co-ordinated set of actions is a response to pressures in interbank markets, which have increased in recent weeks, reflecting sentiment about the global financial sector," a Bank of England spokesman said. | "This co-ordinated set of actions is a response to pressures in interbank markets, which have increased in recent weeks, reflecting sentiment about the global financial sector," a Bank of England spokesman said. |
| "The actions demonstrate that central banks are working together to try to forestall any prospective sharp tightening of credit conditions," he added. | "The actions demonstrate that central banks are working together to try to forestall any prospective sharp tightening of credit conditions," he added. |
| BBC Business Editor Robert Peston said the action was without precedent and meant "the stakes are high". | |
| Recession worry | Recession worry |
| There has been concern that the tightening credit conditions could push the US economy into recession, and cut world economic growth. | There has been concern that the tightening credit conditions could push the US economy into recession, and cut world economic growth. |
| Central banks are worried that if banks are having trouble getting credit, they will raise rates they charge to customers, bringing spending among indebted populations to a standstill. | Central banks are worried that if banks are having trouble getting credit, they will raise rates they charge to customers, bringing spending among indebted populations to a standstill. |
| The move comes after interest rate cuts by both the Fed and the Bank of England had failed to cut the inter-bank interest rates which banks charge each other, which indicated that they were still reluctant to lend money. | The move comes after interest rate cuts by both the Fed and the Bank of England had failed to cut the inter-bank interest rates which banks charge each other, which indicated that they were still reluctant to lend money. |
| If they can count on central banks to lend to them, then they too may be prepared to start lending to each other again BBC Business Editor Robert Peston Robert's blog: Should we feel alarmed or elated? | |
| "If they can count on central banks to lend to them, then they too may be prepared to start lending to each other again," observed Mr Peston. | |
| Rate cut | Rate cut |
| The move means that central banks will help each other out in providing as much liquidity (cash) as they judge necessary to revive the inter-bank market. | The move means that central banks will help each other out in providing as much liquidity (cash) as they judge necessary to revive the inter-bank market. |
| "The Fed in conjunction with these other central banks is providing a ton of liquidity to the markets by year-end," said Greg Salvaggio at Tempus Consulting. | "The Fed in conjunction with these other central banks is providing a ton of liquidity to the markets by year-end," said Greg Salvaggio at Tempus Consulting. |
| "It will work in the short term as another interest rate cut," he added. | "It will work in the short term as another interest rate cut," he added. |
| But others warned that the move was also a sign of just how serious the crisis had become. | But others warned that the move was also a sign of just how serious the crisis had become. |
| "This news just goes to illustrate again how serious the illiquidity issue in money markets has become," said Ian Kernohan of RLAM. | "This news just goes to illustrate again how serious the illiquidity issue in money markets has become," said Ian Kernohan of RLAM. |
| "This doesn't change my view that the UK economy will slow next year." | "This doesn't change my view that the UK economy will slow next year." |
| Conditional loans | Conditional loans |
| The banks will still have to provide collateral and meet certain conditions in order to get help from the central banks. | The banks will still have to provide collateral and meet certain conditions in order to get help from the central banks. |
| Banks judged to be in sound financial condition will be able to participate. | Banks judged to be in sound financial condition will be able to participate. |
| The central banks have judged that these auctions are necessary because banks are having such difficulties borrowing money from each other. | The central banks have judged that these auctions are necessary because banks are having such difficulties borrowing money from each other. |
| The banks have been reluctant to trust their fellow financial institutions because of uncertainty about their exposure to sub-prime loans. | The banks have been reluctant to trust their fellow financial institutions because of uncertainty about their exposure to sub-prime loans. |
| Nobody bid in the Bank of England's last three month auction | Nobody bid in the Bank of England's last three month auction |
| As a result, interbank interest rates have risen, making intervention necessary. | As a result, interbank interest rates have risen, making intervention necessary. |
| No minimum rate | No minimum rate |
| The Bank of England will increase the amount offered in its next auction on 18 December from £2.85bn to £11.35bn, of which £10bn will be offered for three months. | The Bank of England will increase the amount offered in its next auction on 18 December from £2.85bn to £11.35bn, of which £10bn will be offered for three months. |
| Crucially, it will accept a slightly wider range of assets as collateral for the loans. | Crucially, it will accept a slightly wider range of assets as collateral for the loans. |
| The Bank of England held a similar auction for three-month loans in September, but there were no bidders, because banks were worried that the stigma attached to the auction would reduce confidence in them so soon after the run on Northern Rock. | The Bank of England held a similar auction for three-month loans in September, but there were no bidders, because banks were worried that the stigma attached to the auction would reduce confidence in them so soon after the run on Northern Rock. |
| That auction had a punitive minimum rate set at 1% above the Bank of England's base rate, whereas the new auctions do not have a minimum rate. | That auction had a punitive minimum rate set at 1% above the Bank of England's base rate, whereas the new auctions do not have a minimum rate. |