BoE Issues Statement on Adoption of Risk-Free Rates in Sterling Market
BoE released a statement on behalf of the Working Group on Sterling Risk-Free Reference Rates. The statement provides an update on progress in the adoption of SONIA in sterling markets, including work underway to develop a term benchmark based on that risk-free rate. The statement highlights that, in the derivative markets, the share of swaps traded using SONIA is already broadly equivalent to that linked to LIBOR.
It is now just over a year since the BoE implemented reforms to the SONIA interest rate benchmark, improving the sustainability and representativeness of the chosen alternative risk-free reference rate in UK. Following that change, sterling-denominated financial markets have begun to shift decisively away from LIBOR and toward SONIA. In the derivative markets, the share of swaps traded using SONIA is already broadly equivalent to that linked to LIBOR. Liquidity and open interest in SONIA futures is also growing steadily. SONIA is also being adopted in cash markets. SONIA-linked Floating Rate Notes (FRNs) have rapidly become the market norm and LIBOR-linked sterling FRN issuance beyond 2021 has all but ceased. Recent weeks also saw the issuance of the first distributed SONIA-linked Residential Mortgage-Backed Security (RMBS). Looking ahead, the next goal is to reduce reliance on LIBOR in other sterling cash markets, including loans.
Given the rapid development of liquidity in markets referencing overnight SONIA, the Working Group anticipates that corporate borrowers will increasingly prefer contracts that reference compounded overnight SONIA. For those already able and willing to do so, the Working Group encourages providers and users of such products to press ahead with their transition efforts, thus reducing the risk of disorderly adjustment closer to end-2021 and helping to develop liquidity in SONIA-referencing markets even further. The Working Group also supports the work underway to develop a term benchmark based on the sterling risk-free rate, known as a Term SONIA Reference Rate (TSRR).
In December 2018, the Working Group had published a statement inviting interested benchmark administrators to consider the summary of responses to the TSRR consultation and to share any views on the development of such benchmarks. Three administrators (FTSE Russell, ICE Benchmark Administration, and Refinitiv) have confirmed that they are working on the development of a TSRR, with each delivering a short factual presentation to the Working Group at a meeting on May 14, 2019. Over the remainder of 2019, the Working Group expects that administrators will work to establish if a robust TSSR, compliant with international standards, can be produced on a timetable consistent with the broader transition work. The Working Group welcomes these developments and has established a new Task Force to ensure that this work remains on track.
Related Links
- Notification
- Statement (PDF)
- FTSE Russell - Term SONIA Reference Rates (PDF)
- ICE Benchmark Administration - Building Term SONIA Reference Rates (PDF)
- Refinitiv - Term SONIA Reference Rates (PDF)
Keywords: Europe, UK, Banking, Securities, LIBOR, Risk-Free Rates, Interest Rate Benchmarks, SONIA, Reference Rates, BoE
Previous Article
IASB Issues Work Plan and Meeting Updates for May 2019Related Articles
|
News
EC Amends Regulation Supplementing Solvency II DirectiveEC published the Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/981 that amends the Regulation (EU) 2015/35, which supplements Solvency II Directive (2009/138/EC) on the taking-up and pursuit of the business of insurance and reinsurance.
June 18, 2019
WebPage
Regulatory News
|
|
News
IOSCO Report Examines Application of International Cyber StandardsIOSCO published a final report that examines the application of the three internationally recognized cyber standards and frameworks by IOSCO member jurisdictions.
June 18, 2019
WebPage
Regulatory News
|
|
News
PRA Launches 2019 Stress Test Exercise for Life and General InsurersPRA has launched the biennial insurance stress test and is asking the largest regulated life and general insurers to provide information about the impact of a range of stress tests on their business.
June 18, 2019
WebPage
Regulatory News
|
|
News
PRA Finalizes Reporting Amendments to Pillar 2 Liquidity FrameworkPRA published the final Policy Statement PS13/19 on regulatory reporting amendments and clarifications to the Pillar 2 liquidity framework for banks in UK.
June 17, 2019
WebPage
Regulatory News
|
|
News
FSB Assesses Implementation of Compensation Standards and PrinciplesFSB published the sixth progress report on the implementation of its principles and standards for sound compensation practices in financial institutions.
June 17, 2019
WebPage
Regulatory News
|
|
News
IMF Publishes Reports on 2019 Article IV Consultation with IrelandIMF published its staff report and selected issues report under the 2019 Article IV consultation with Ireland.
June 17, 2019
WebPage
Regulatory News
|
|
News
EBA Updates Data on Deposit Guarantee Schemes in EUEBA published the 2018 data on two key concepts in the Deposit Guarantee Schemes Directive (DGSD)—namely, available financial means and covered deposits.
June 17, 2019
WebPage
Regulatory News
|
|
News
SNB Updates Form for Reporting Solvency Risk of CounterpartiesSNB published the survey (Form Release 5.01) and related documentation for reporting solvency risk of counterparties in the interbank sector (ARIS).
June 17, 2019
WebPage
Regulatory News
|
|
News
ISDA Studies Variation in Global Implementation of Margin RequirementsISDA published a paper that highlights the main areas of difference in the implementation of margin requirements for non-cleared derivatives across jurisdictions and makes recommendations on how to resolve these variations.
June 17, 2019
WebPage
Regulatory News
|
|
News
US Agencies Finalize Rule to Streamline Reporting for Small BanksUS Agencies (FDIC, FED, and OCC) adopted a final rule to streamline the regulatory reporting requirements for small institutions.
June 17, 2019
WebPage
Regulatory News
|
