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The hunt for duration: not waving but drowning?

Author

Listed:
  • Dietrich Domanski
  • Hyun Song Shin
  • Vladyslav Sushko

Abstract

Long-term interest rates in Europe fell sharply in 2014 to historically low levels. This development is often attributed to yield-chasing in anticipation of quantitative easing (QE) by the European Central Bank (ECB). We examine how portfolio adjustments by long-term investors aimed at containing duration mismatches may have acted as an amplification mechanism in this process. Declining long-term interest rates tend to widen the negative duration gap between the assets and liabilities of insurers and pension funds, and any attempted rebalancing by increasing asset duration results in further downward pressure on interest rates. Evidence from the German insurance sector is consistent with such an amplification mechanism.

Suggested Citation

  • Dietrich Domanski & Hyun Song Shin & Vladyslav Sushko, 2015. "The hunt for duration: not waving but drowning?," BIS Working Papers 519, Bank for International Settlements.
    • Handle: RePEc:bis:biswps:519
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    long-term yield compression; insurance sector; liability-driven investment; duration mismatch;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E43 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Money and Interest Rates - - - Interest Rates: Determination, Term Structure, and Effects
    • G11 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Portfolio Choice; Investment Decisions
    • G12 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Asset Pricing; Trading Volume; Bond Interest Rates
    • G22 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Insurance; Insurance Companies; Actuarial Studies

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