Bank of Japan pauses; leaves Europe alone to experiment with negative rates

The Bank of Japan’s decision to keep both its interest rate and its asset purchase program unchanged, could mean that negative rates will mainly be tested in Europe.  Following the negative reaction in Japan from both the banking sector as well as the wider public, the Bank was reluctant to push rates lower so soon after pushing them below zero for the first time in history back in January.  Therefore, it looks like the Bank of Japan is going to keep charging certain balances held by financial institutions by -0.1% but not drive that rate further into negative territory.  A negative rate of -0.1% is unlikely to mean that negative rates are going to be used more widely in the Japanese banking system, although it should be noted that the country’s 10-year bond also has a slightly negative yield.

This leaves Europe as the main testing ground where negative rates are being used.  Depending on the success of the experiment, negative rates might be used more broadly by other central banks outside of Europe in the case of a future crisis.  Specifically, negative rates are present in the Eurozone (now at a deposit rate of -0.4%), Sweden (-0.5% repo rate) and Switzerland (-0.75% target mid-point for 3-month London interbank rate).  Denmark also has a -0.65% rate on certificates of deposit, but the country’s currency has to track the euro, which makes it necessary to follow the ECB in terms of monetary policy.

Therefore these are the countries that will be closely watched as the experiment is running its course.  Of course even in Europe the banks are careful not to charge retail customers with positive balances, as this could create a backlash.  It is possible therefore, because of the reluctance to pass on negative rates to all their customers, the profitability of the banking sector might be hurt.

Financial markets are sceptical as to whether negative rates are going to have an impact on stimulating lending and boosting growth.  The adoption of negative rates can signal an economy that is in deep distress rather than bolster confidence about the future.  In addition negative rates tend to hit savers and pension and insurance funds, which have come to expect an income from cash and safe fixed income investments.  Instead such investors are forced to undertake more risks in lower-quality bonds or to invest in volatile equity markets; a recipe that could lead to a bubble.  Therefore it remains to be seen if such instruments are going to be effective or damaging in the long-run.

In currency markets, the adoption of negative rates (Bank of Japan – January) or the driving of rates even deeper into negative territory (ECB – March) did not lead to the expected depreciation of either the yen or the euro.  Perhaps this is due to the realization that negative rates have a limit and medium-term expectations of future policy – which is what usually drives exchange rate movements – imply very limited scope for additional action such as even more negative rates.