Open market operations, conducted by the Central Bank, are an important strategy in managing the money supply and reserves at banks nationwide. This article HVA will introduce you to the basic concepts, characteristics, roles and regulations related to this profession.
1. Concept of open market operations OMO
Open Market Operations (OMO) is one of the monetary policy tools through which the Central Bank buys or sells securities with the aim of adjusting the amount of money in the financial system. The Central Bank, commercial banks, non-bank financial institutions and investors play the main roles in this operation.
The Central Bank can increase or decrease the amount of reserves held by commercial banks through the purchase and sale of financial assets, including long-term and short-term securities, or through repurchase and secured lending transactions. Financial assets traded may include State Bank bills, Government bonds and other types of bonds guaranteed by the Government.
Open market operations trading day:
- The exchange will publish information about the securities auction on its official website. Participants will log in to their accounts to carry out the deposit and transfer of those securities.
- The State Bank decides the frequency of open market operations, usually twice daily, with maturities for these transactions being 7 days and 28 days.
Regulations on persons authorized to sign in open market operations under Article 18 of Circular No. 42/2015/TT-NHNN, specifically stipulate the authority to sign in activities related to open market as follows:
- All documents related to withdrawal of membership, request for recognition, as well as documents related to conducting open market transactions with the State Bank must be signed by the legal representative of the credit institution or branch of a foreign bank.
- Documents relating to the admission or withdrawal of membership, as well as documents relating to the conduct of open market transactions with other members, shall be signed by the Director of the Exchange, or the Director may authorize the Deputy Director of the Exchange to sign on his behalf.
2. Characteristics open market operations
Adjust the amount of money circulating in the market:
The Central Bank provides liquidity to commercial banks, then withdraws excess liquidity to regulate short-term interest rates and the amount of basic money in the economy, thereby indirectly managing the total amount of money in circulation (reducing or increasing the amount of money). This process includes meeting the demand for basic money at the target interest rate through the purchase and sale of government bonds and other financial investment instruments.
Adjustments to interest rates affect short- and long-term interest rates as well as exchange rates, which can change the amount of money and credit available in the economy, thereby affecting important economic indicators such as unemployment rates, production, and prices of goods and services.
Priority use of government bonds:
In theory, the Central Bank can choose to use any financial asset or other valuable paper for its open market operations. However, in practice, government bonds are often preferred due to their high liquidity. This allows the Central Bank to make the necessary adjustments quickly and at the right time.
Furthermore, to ensure that transactions do not distort or disrupt the market, securities must satisfy both transaction needs and market stability. Ultimately, only government bonds meet these criteria, thus becoming the main instrument used in open market operations in most countries.
3. The role of open market operations
In finance, Open Market Operations (OMO) plays an important role in the buying and selling of securities, thereby increasing the liquidity of these documents;
For commercial banks and financial institutions, open market operations help them optimize the use of idle funds and expand their business services. In addition to traditional business activities such as lending and guarantee, they can also invest in buying and selling other financial assets.
For the State Bank, the application of open market operations (OMO) helps the bank to be more proactive in guiding market behavior and regulating short-term capital supply. Through monetary policy, the State Bank can adjust the amount of cash reserves of financial institutions and the timing of intervention in the open market, depending on actual market conditions. Thanks to that, the State Bank is able to achieve the monetary policy objectives set for each economic period.
Furthermore, open market operations (OMO) also contribute to establishing and maintaining market discipline for short-term securities transactions.
4. Components of open market operations
Participants in Open Market Operations – OMO include the Central Bank (CB), commercial banks (CB), non-bank financial institutions and brokers. Specifically:
- The Central Bank (SBV) plays a key role in establishing, managing, operating and coordinating open market operations. The SBV decides on the method and frequency of open market operations, intervenes in the market when necessary and ensures the provision of sufficient means of payment for commercial banks and credit institutions to meet the credit needs of the economy.
- Commercial banks, as the main financial centers with nationwide networks, play an important role in distributing capital to the economy.
- Non-bank financial institutions include finance companies, insurance companies, investment funds, etc. that participate in the open market to increase income from their idle capital.
- Brokers, or intermediaries, connect the buying and selling of securities between the central bank and other parties. These brokers can be securities companies or financial companies, accounting for 70% of total transactions in the open market. They must have strong capital, accounts at the central bank and connections with the central bank to execute transactions, and are always ready to participate in market making in treasury bill auctions.
5. How to participate in open market in Vietnam
To be part of the open market, you need to be a member of one of the organizations mentioned above. In countries where the open market is not yet well developed, the participation of intermediaries may not be possible. Therefore, your options include becoming partners with the Central Bank such as commercial banks or non-bank financial institutions.
To be recognized as a member of the open market operation, credit institutions and branches of foreign banks (except microfinance institutions and people's credit funds) must open a payment account in Vietnamese currency at the State Bank of Vietnam and be granted a bank code by the State Bank.
These organizations need to submit an Application for participation in open market operations (according to Appendix No. 01/TTM) to the State Bank and wait for assessment from the State Bank within 5 working days.
6. Open market and breakthrough VN-INDEX 2024
Open market operations (OMO) have become an indispensable element in Vietnam's macroeconomic picture, especially in contributing to the impressive breakthrough of VN-INDEX in 2024. This not only reflects the maturity and effectiveness of monetary policies but also shows the flexibility and creativity in the management method of the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV).
By effectively implementing open market operations, the SBV has affirmed its central role in regulating the amount of money circulating in the economy, ensuring price stability and supporting economic growth. The purchase and sale of government bonds and other financial investment instruments through OMO not only helps the SBV control inflation but also creates conditions for credit institutions and commercial banks to manage their capital flows more flexibly.
In 2024, the remarkable growth of VN-INDEX was largely due to the stability of short-term interest rates and timely adjustment of money supply through OMO. This not only facilitated businesses to borrow capital at reasonable costs but also promoted investment in the underlying stock market, increasing the value of VN-INDEX.
In general, open market operations have been playing an important role in supporting the development of Vietnam's financial market, being one of the solid pillars for the growth of VN-INDEX and the economy in general. The success of OMO is not only the result of flexible and correct policy implementation but also reflects the effective coordination between the SBV, commercial banks, non-bank financial institutions and intermediary traders in promoting the stability and growth of the financial market.
Source: Onstocks
