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What Are Reference Rates For?

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  • Mr. Divya Kirti

Abstract

What is the precise role of reference rates? Why does it matter if LIBOR was manipulated? To address these questions, I analyze the use of reference rates in floating-rate loans and interestrate derivatives in the context of lending relationships. I develop a simple framework combining maturity transformation with three key frictions which generate meaningful funding risk and a rationale for risk management. Reference rates like LIBOR mitigate contractual incompleteness, facilitating management of funding risk. As bank funding costs move with bank credit risk, it makes sense for the reference rate to have a bank credit risk component. Manipulation can add noise, reducing the usefulness of reference rates for this purpose.

Suggested Citation

  • Mr. Divya Kirti, 2017. "What Are Reference Rates For?," IMF Working Papers 2017/013, International Monetary Fund.
    • Handle: RePEc:imf:imfwpa:2017/013
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    Cited by:

    1. Darrell Duffie & Cooperman Harry & Stephan Luck & Zachry Wang & Yilin Yang, 2022. "Bank Funding Risk, Reference Rates, and Credit Supply," Staff Reports 1042, Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
    2. Mielus Piotr, 2019. "How to Measure the Economic Integrity of Ibor Panels? A Behavioural Approach," Financial Sciences. Nauki o Finansach, Sciendo, vol. 24(1), pages 51-73, March.
    3. Sven Klingler & Olav Syrstad, 2023. "Does SOFR-linked debt cost borrowers more than LIBOR-linked debt?," Working Paper 2023/7, Norges Bank.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    WP; reference rate; risk tolerance; Reference rates; interest rate risk; floating rate; interest-rate derivative; total utility; Hedging; Interbank rates; Credit risk; Loans; Credit; Europe; Global;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G21 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Banks; Other Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages
    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill
    • G18 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Government Policy and Regulation

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