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Bond funds’ risk taking and monetary policy

Author

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  • Anyfantaki, Sofia
  • Migiakis, Petros
  • Petroulakis, Filippos
  • Giannakidis, Haris
  • Malliaropulos, Dimitris

Abstract

Using granular security-level data from bond funds domiciled in the US and the euro area, we identify a market-based risk-taking channel of monetary policy transmission via the credit-risk and the maturity structure of bond funds’ portfolios. We measure credit risk at the fund level as the weighted average credit rating of the fund’s bond holdings. We find that accommodative monetary policies by the Fed and the ECB are associated with increased risk in bond funds’ portfolios. Interestingly, risk-taking is more pronounced for funds with longer-term holdings relative to short-term ones and unconventional monetary policy exerts stronger market-based risk-taking effects than interest rate policy. Finally, we find that Fed’s monetary policy has a stronger impact on funds’ risk-taking behaviour than the ECB’s, highlighting the dominant role of US monetary policy in global financial markets. JEL Classification: E52, G12, G15, G20

Suggested Citation

  • Anyfantaki, Sofia & Migiakis, Petros & Petroulakis, Filippos & Giannakidis, Haris & Malliaropulos, Dimitris, 2026. "Bond funds’ risk taking and monetary policy," Working Paper Series 3196, European Central Bank.
    • Handle: RePEc:ecb:ecbwps:20263196
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    JEL classification:

    • E52 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit - - - Monetary Policy
    • G12 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Asset Pricing; Trading Volume; Bond Interest Rates
    • G15 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - International Financial Markets
    • G20 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - General

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