Bank of America Securities analysts have argued that forthcoming changes to the Eurosystem’s repurchase -repo- facility are unlikely to convert the European Central Bank into the principal source of euros for non-euro area residents purchasing euro-denominated assets.
Recent reports indicate the ECB is exploring ways to expand access to euro liquidity across additional countries. The intention behind these discussions is to make the single currency easier and less costly to secure - a response tied to questions over the U.S. dollar’s reserve role amid heightened geopolitical and policy uncertainty.
People familiar with the matter say ECB President Christine Lagarde regards expanded liquidity channels as an important lever to enhance the euro’s standing internationally. The precise mechanics of the planned revisions - which would offer more generous terms for central banks seeking repurchase agreements denominated in euros - remain under development and were expected to be detailed around the Munich Security Conference this week.
Under the proposal, the operational interest rate on these central bank repo arrangements would be reduced, eligibility and operational rules would be harmonized across participants, and the caps on the amounts that countries may borrow from the ECB would be relaxed. Such repurchase agreements enable central banks to obtain euros by providing euro-denominated collateral, giving policymakers additional flexibility when domestic institutions cannot readily access euro funding in times of stress.
Despite those potential improvements, analysts at BofA, including Ronald Man, cautioned against assuming the ECB would set a backstop rate for non-euro area residents very close to the rate it charges domestic banks through its main lending operations. "We do not think it is intuitive for the ECB to set a backstop rate for non-euro area residents too close to the rate on its main lending operations to domestic banks, considering the ECB is transitioning to a demand-driven system," they wrote.
The BofA team added that the likely objective of any change to the Eurosystem’s repo facility for central banks would be to bolster confidence among non-euro area holders of euro assets, particularly in stressed market conditions. In short, the adjustments appear aimed at improving the euro’s availability and perceived reliability abroad rather than converting the ECB into a primary, large-scale funding provider for external purchasers.
Summary
Planned tweaks to the ECB’s repo facility are designed to ease access to euros and raise confidence among non-euro area holders of euro assets. However, BofA analysts say these measures are unlikely to make the ECB the dominant funding source for external purchasers, and the bank is unlikely to align backstop rates for outsiders too closely with its main lending rate to domestic lenders.