The effect of monetary policy interventions on interbank markets, equity indices and G-SIFIs during financial crisis

Since 2007, monetary authorities around the globe have reduced their key policy interest rates to unprece-dented low levels and intervened with non-standard policy measures (i.e., monetary easing and liquidityprovision) to support funding conditions for banks, enhance lending to the private sector and contain con-tagion in financial markets (e.g., European Central Bank, 2011). Using a detailed dataset of monetary policyinterventions between June 2007 and June 2012 in the most advanced monetary areas (the Euro area,Japan, the U.S., the UK and Switzerland), we analyze their effects at three different levels, including (1)the interbank credit market, considering the 3-month LIBOR-OIS spread as a measure of financial distress(e.g., Taylor and Williams, 2009); (2) the stock market, represented by wide equity indices; and (3) thebanking sector, focusing on global systematically important financial institutions (G-SIFIs). We demon-strate that different monetary policy interventions from single central banks have produced a diversemarket reaction. Standard measures have been more effective than non-conventional ones in restoringthe interbank market, which is fundamental for maintaining a fully operational traditional interest ratechannel and for guaranteeing the normal functioning of financial intermediation. Non-traditional mea-sures have registered a stronger stock market reaction with respect to standard interest rate decisions,both in terms of broad equity indices and single prices of large banks.