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Bond market intermediation and the Role of Repo

Yesol Huh and Sebastian Infante

Journal of Banking & Finance, 2021, vol. 122, issue C

Abstract: We model the role that repurchase agreements (repos) play in bond market intermediation. Not only do repos allow dealers to finance their activities, but they also enable dealers to source assets without taking ownership. When the asset trades with repo specialness, i.e, when the associated repo rate is significantly below prevailing market rates, borrowing the asset is more expensive, resulting in higher bid-ask spreads. Limiting a single dealer’s leverage decreases its market-making abilities, so the dealer charges a higher bid-ask spread. However, limiting all dealers’ leverage reduces pressure on repo specialness, thus decreasing bid-ask spreads. More generally, this paper characterizes the importance of collateralized borrowing and lending for bond market intermediation, shows how frictions in repo markets can affect the underlying cash market liquidity, and underscores the importance of securities lending.

Keywords: Market liquidity; Repo; Intermediation; Regulation; Treasury market (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: G2 G24 G28 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (12)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:jbfina:v:122:y:2021:i:c:s0378426620302612

DOI: 10.1016/j.jbankfin.2020.105999

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