This paper addresses the question of whether sterilized central bank intervention systematically affects exchange rates. Furthermore, the paper analyzes whether a central bank can conduct its intervention operations in a specific manner, in order to increase the likelihood of achieving its objectives. The first question is addressed by applying the event study methodology of the finance literature to daily data on Bundesbank and Fed post-Plaza intervention. Using the non-parametric sign test and the matched sample test, evidence of effectiveness in terms of a systematic association between exchange rate levels and intervention is found. The second question is addressed by estimating binary choice models of the conditional probabilities of observing a successful intervention operation over observations when at least one of the two central banks were intervening. The results suggest that central banks can in fact improve the likelihood of success primarily through coordination and, also, if intervention occurs infrequently. JEL Classification: F31; F33; F42; G15.
Download Info
To download:
If you experience problems downloading a file, check if you have the
proper application to
view it first. Information about this may be contained
in the File-Format links below. In case of further problems read
the IDEAS help
page. Note that these files are not on the IDEAS
site. Please be patient as the files may be large.
Publisher Info
Paper provided by European Central Bank in its series Working Paper Series with number
10.
Cited by: (explanations, Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.)
Did you know? Citation analysis on IDEAS includes online papers that are freely accessible and whose text could be automatically analyzed, currently about 210000 papers.