Derivative Margin Calls: A New Driver of MMF Flows

Author/Editor:

Maddalena Ghio ; Linda Rousova ; Dilyara Salakhova ; German Villegas Bauer

Publication Date:

March 17, 2023

Electronic Access:

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Disclaimer: IMF Working Papers describe research in progress by the author(s) and are published to elicit comments and to encourage debate. The views expressed in IMF Working Papers are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views of the IMF, its Executive Board, or IMF management.

Summary:

During the March 2020 market turmoil, euro area money-market funds (MMFs) experienced significant outflows, reaching almost 8% of assets under management. This paper investigates whether the volatility in MMF flows was driven by investors’ liquidity needs related to derivative margin payments. We combine three highly granular unique data sources (EMIR data for derivatives, SHSS data for investor holdings of MMFs and Refinitiv Lipper data for daily MMF flows) to construct a daily fund-level panel dataset spanning from February to April 2020. We estimate the effects of variation margin paid and received by the largest holders of EURdenominated MMFs on flows of these MMFs. The main findings suggest that variation margin payments faced by some investors holding MMFs were an important driver of the flows of EUR-denominated MMFs domiciled in euro area.

Series:

Working Paper No. 2023/061

Frequency:

regular

English

Publication Date:

March 17, 2023

ISBN/ISSN:

9798400233937/1018-5941

Stock No:

WPIEA2023061

Pages:

35

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