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McHenry, Davidson Request Assessment of Swap Market’s Threat to Financial Stability


Washington, Dec 16 -

Today, the top Republican on the House Financial Services Committee, Patrick McHenry (NC-10), and the top Republican on the Task Force on Financial Technology, Warren Davidson (OH-08), sent a letter to Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. In light of tightening financial conditions due to the Federal Reserve’s fight against Democrat-induced inflation, the Republican Leaders are requesting an assessment of the threat to financial stability that failure of dollar-denominated foreign exchange and currency swaps could pose.

Read the full letter to Chairman Powell and Secretary Yellen here or below:

“Dear Chairman Powell and Secretary Yellen:

“We write to highlight the global uncertainty surrounding certain segments of domestic and global financial markets. As the Federal Reserve continues to use its tools to rein in inflation, it continues to draw U.S. Dollar-liquidity out of the domestic and global financial system. While this is necessary to restore price-stability, it comes with related risks. The Federal Reserve and the Department of the Treasury must be cognizant of the potential financial stability issues that may result from these efforts.

“Economists at the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) recently highlighted the $80 trillion-plus in outstanding obligations to pay U.S. Dollars in connection with currency-swap and foreign exchange-swap borrowings. Given the sheer magnitude of the aggregate amounts in question, the estimated $5 trillion of daily turnover in U.S. Dollar-denominated swaps, and the centrality of U.S. Dollar-financing to global trade and financial markets, this issue deserves close attention.

“Although a majority of these U.S. Dollar swaps are protected by risk mitigation measures, an estimated 31% of U.S. Dollar-denominated swaps do not have such protections. This means that a likely $24 trillion-plus of outstanding U.S. Dollar swap-arrangements and a BIS-estimated $2.2 trillion in daily turnover is subject to unmitigated risk.

“Currency- and foreign exchange-swap arrangements that seemed manageable to market actors even one year ago may no longer be manageable today. While many of these swap-contracts have been either closed or rolled-over since the Federal Reserve began tightening operations, it does not mean that hidden risks are not still present.

“It is critical that the Federal Reserve and Department of the Treasury assess the likelihood for and effects of potential impacts on U.S. financial institutions and markets and the U.S. financial system as a whole from negative spillbacks if a significant portion of these swap-arrangements were to turn sour.

“We appreciate your attention to this critical issue and stand ready to work with you to ensure you have the tools you need to ensure the safety and soundness of the domestic and global financial system.”

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