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Effectiveness of FX intervention and the flimsiness of exchange rate expectations

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  • Vargas-Herrera, Hernando
  • Villamizar-Villegas, Mauricio

Abstract

Most of the foreign exchange intervention literature overlooks the influence of market uncertainty when evaluating effectiveness. In this paper we take a fresh new look at how this uncertainty amplifies exchange rate effects. Our contribution is twofold. We first posit a partial equilibrium model with frictions to illustrate that when uncertainty is low, intervention is less effective, for agents are willing to bet against the central bank. Conversely, when uncertainty is high, intervention faces a weaker countervailing force from speculators and arbitragers. Second, we empirically test for the incremental effects of flimsy exchange rate fundamentals by using a sharp policy discontinuity in the way the Central Bank of Colombia intervened in the FX market. Our results indicate that market uncertainty increases depreciation of domestic currency in approximately 2 percentage points (pp) following central bank purchases of foreign currency and extends its duration in up to 4 weeks. Additionally, these purchases have an incremental effect in curbing exchange rate volatility in close to 5 pp.

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  • Vargas-Herrera, Hernando & Villamizar-Villegas, Mauricio, 2024. "Effectiveness of FX intervention and the flimsiness of exchange rate expectations," Journal of Financial Stability, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:finsta:v:74:y:2024:i:c:s1572308920301169
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jfs.2020.100813
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    Cited by:

    1. Holmes, Mark J. & Iregui, Ana María & Otero, Jesús, 2021. "The effects of FX-interventions on forecasters disagreement: A mixed data sampling view," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 58(C).
    2. Iregui, Ana María & Núñez, Héctor M. & Otero, Jesús, 2021. "Testing the efficiency of inflation and exchange rate forecast revisions in a changing economic environment," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 187(C), pages 290-314.
    3. Ojeda-Joya, Jair & Romero, José Vicente, 2023. "Global uncertainty shocks and exchange-rate expectations in Latin America," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).
    4. Mauricio Villamizar‐Villegas & Freddy A. Pinzon‐Puerto & Maria Alejandra Ruiz‐Sanchez, 2022. "A comprehensive history of regression discontinuity designs: An empirical survey of the last 60 years," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 36(4), pages 1130-1178, September.
    5. Arango-Lozano, Lucía & Menkhoff, Lukas & Rodríguez-Novoa, Daniela & Villamizar-Villegas, Mauricio, 2024. "The effectiveness of FX interventions: A meta-analysis," Journal of Financial Stability, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    6. Wenbo Wang & Dieu Thanh Le & Hail Park, 2020. "Is Foreign Exchange Intervention a Panacea in Diversified Circumstances? The Perspectives of Asymmetric Effects," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-20, April.
    7. Freddy A. Pinzón-Puerto & Mauricio Villamizar-Villegas, 2023. "Do Actions Speak Louder than Words? A Foreign Exchange Intervention Analysis," Borradores de Economia 1223, Banco de la Republica de Colombia.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Sterilized FX intervention; Exchange rate uncertainty; Policy discontinuity; Incremental effect of intervention; Regression Discontinuity Design;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C14 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - Semiparametric and Nonparametric Methods: General
    • C31 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Cross-Sectional Models; Spatial Models; Treatment Effect Models; Quantile Regressions; Social Interaction Models
    • E58 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit - - - Central Banks and Their Policies
    • F31 - International Economics - - International Finance - - - Foreign Exchange

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