Global credit markets at a crossroads: IIAC

Takeaways from the International Capital Market Association (ICMA) Annual General Meeting and Conference in Amsterdam, held on June 4-5, are the subject of the latest industry letter from Ian Russell, president and CEO of the Investment Industry Association of Canada (IIAC).

Read: IIAC has new board chair and vice chair, unveils 2015-16 priorities

The bond market liquidity drought dominated conversations at the event, says Russell. Finding buyers in the market when investors look to sell has gotten more difficult, resulting in greater day-to-day volatility and wider bid-ask spreads. Even the U.S. Treasury bond market—one of the most liquid markets in the world—is not immune to turbulence.

Russell says there are a number of factors behind the liquidity crunch, including changes to regulation aimed at addressing weaknesses exposed by the financial crisis.

Market participants fear a full-blown liquidity crisis if a real shock hits, perhaps a Greek default or the U.S. Federal reserve signalling an earlier-than-expected rate hike. Investors may rush out of bonds, only to discover they cannot find buyers—the type of scenario that could quickly become a fire sale.

Is there any way to mitigate this risk? Russell thinks so. Regulators should step back and undertake a full regulatory review of the cumulative effect of post-crisis capital, liquidity and trading rules. They should also proceed with utmost care in rolling out new credit market regulatory reforms to avoid further damage to market liquidity.

Read more here.

Also read:

“Epic collapse” of VC markets can be reversed: IIAC

Technology key to industry’s future: IIAC

Staff

The staff of Advisor.ca have been covering news for financial advisors since 1998.