Examining the effect of RBA target rate news on the interest rate futures market

This paper examines the interest rate futures market reaction to the release of RBA target rate news using daily data within an EGARCH framework. The study finds evidence that interest rate futures react to the news component of target rate announcements across the maturity spectrum, with a stronger...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Smales, Lee
Format: Journal Article
Published: 2011
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/18372
Description
Summary:This paper examines the interest rate futures market reaction to the release of RBA target rate news using daily data within an EGARCH framework. The study finds evidence that interest rate futures react to the news component of target rate announcements across the maturity spectrum, with a stronger reaction evident in short maturity futures. There is evidence of an asymmetric news effect whereby interest rate futures have a stronger reaction to unexpected rate rises, than to unexpected rate cuts. The study finds that the RBA target rate announcements resolve uncertainty in interest rate futures, and this effect has intensified following the December 2007 change in RBA communication policy.