The interbank interest rate differential is an important measure of the direction of the interest rate and the direction of the economy. It is closely related to the directional pricing mechanism of interest rates. The interbank interest rate differential refers to the interest rate gap between the lending and deposit rates of different banks in the interbank open market. It is one of the important bench marks to measure the basis of interest rate pricing.
Simply put, the bigger the difference between the lending and deposit rates between two banks, the greater the possibility that one bank has a more favorable interest rate environment than the other. Banks adjust the level of their deposit and lending rates in order to meet their own operational requirements, by comparing the respective rates of the other banks, to ensure that their own pricing for deposits and loans is competitive.
According to the regulations of the Central Bank, all commercial banks in the country must comply with the regulations of its base rate for loan products, and the rate must not be lower than the base rate. The base rate is determined by the Central Bank on a monthly basis and basically follows the general trend of the market. Banks have some room to make adjustments according to their own conditions, and the size of the base rate will have an impact on the pricing of the loan interest rate.
In recent years, with the downward trend of the interest rate, the interbank lending and deposit rates have also come down accordingly. This has led to a narrowing of the interbank interest rate differential, reflecting the overall downward trend of the markets interest rate pricing.
When the lending and deposit interest rate between two banks is much lower than the average market level, it may indicate that one of the banks may suffer from a low liquidity situation and will be more hesitant to lend money to the inter-bank market. On the contrary, when the difference between the lending and deposit rate is higher than the average level, it may indicate that the liquidity of one of the banks is strong enough, making it more willing to lend money to the interbank market.
The interbank interest rate differential has a certain guiding effect on the pricing of the loan interest rate in the wide market. On one hand, with the narrowing of the gap, the general trend of the interbank market interest rate will become more obvious, and consequently the loan interest rate of the commercial bank market will also trend downwards. On the other hand, with the expansion of the gap, the interbank interest rate will become more differentiated, and the loan interest rate of commercial bank will show a more fluctuated trend.
In general, the interbank interest rate differential is an essential factor for bankers to determine the reference for the pricing of loan interest rate. It is also a crucial indicator for investors to get a better understanding of the overall level of market interest rate and to grasp the potential yield and other related information. Therefore, the interbank interest rate differential can be considered as one of the most essential elements when it comes to the pricing of loan interest rate and the direction of the economy.