ECB Releases Results of June Survey on Credit Terms and Conditions

The survey results show that, for price terms, non-financial corporations were the most affected counterparty type; however, for non-price terms, the tightening of conditions was most noticeable for hedge funds. Respondents mainly attributed the tightening to a deterioration in general liquidity and market functioning, but they also suggested that current or expected financial strength of counterparties was an additional motivation for offering less-favorable conditions to hedge funds and non-financial corporations in particular. The maximum amount and maturity of funding offered against all types of non-government euro-denominated collateral continued to decline, but rose for funding against government bonds as collateral. Haircuts applied to euro-denominated collateral increased significantly and financing rates/spreads increased for funding secured by all types of collateral except domestic government bonds. The liquidity of collateral deteriorated for all collateral types, and collateral valuation disputes recorded the strongest increase on record.

Initial margin requirements increased for all OTC derivatives, except commodity derivatives, with a significant share of respondents reporting increased initial margin requirements for OTC credit derivatives referencing sovereigns, corporates, and structured credit products. The survey also reported that the maximum amount of exposures had decreased for OTC commodity derivatives and total return swaps referencing non-securities such as bank loans. Liquidity and trading deteriorated materially for all types of derivatives, with the most pronounced deterioration in credit derivatives referencing corporates, structured credit products and sovereigns. The volume, duration, and persistence of valuation disputes rose further across all types of derivatives.

The June 2020 survey included a number of special questions aimed at gauging the impact of credit terms and margin requirements on market and counterparty liquidity situations against the background of COVID-19 crisis. Within the limits of their risk management frameworks, responding institutions accounted, to some degree, for their counterparties’ liquidity or solvency situation when tightening credit terms during this period. Responding institutions were able to roll over money market transactions, albeit at less-favorable pricing conditions for many institutions. Survey respondents reported that their clients predominantly covered liquidity needs resulting from margin calls by tapping repo markets or credit lines. However, some insurance companies, hedge funds, and investment funds faced strained liquidity situations linked to the posting of variation margins. The results are based on responses from a panel of 28 large banks, comprising 14 euro area banks and 14 banks with head offices outside the euro area. The survey is conducted four times a year and covers changes in credit terms and conditions over three-month reference periods ending in February, May, August, and November.

Related Links

• Press Release
• Survey Results (PDF)
• Survey Guidelines (PDF)
• Detailed Data Series (ZIP)

Keywords: Europe, EU, Banking, Insurance, Securities, SESFOD, Securities Financing Transactions, COVID-19, OTC Derivatives, Survey Results, Margin Requirements, Credit Risk, Credit Terms and Conditions, ECB