【固收】曲线短端调控的“新搭档”和“老辅助”——14D OMO逆回购招标方式调整的点评（张旭）

Core Viewpoint - The People's Bank of China has announced a change in the operation of the 14-day reverse repurchase agreement, shifting to a fixed quantity, interest rate bidding, and multiple price level bidding system, which is expected to enhance liquidity management in the banking system [4][5]. Summary by Sections Event - On September 19, 2025, the People's Bank of China announced that the 14-day reverse repurchase operation would now be conducted with fixed quantity and interest rate bidding, along with multiple price level bidding [4]. Commentary - The primary policy interest rate in China is the 7-day Open Market Operation (OMO) rate, which is crucial for signaling monetary policy. The fixed rate bidding is deemed most appropriate. Compared to variable rate bidding, the new system allows for better allocation of scarce central bank funds to those truly in need. Traders seeking 14-day OMO funds can bid at higher rates, increasing their chances of full allocation. This change is expected to stabilize the short end of the yield curve and maintain ample liquidity in the banking system [5][6]. - It is anticipated that the 14-day OMO operations will occur more frequently than in previous years, not limited to just before major holidays. The first operation under the new bidding method is likely to take place on September 22 [5]. Interest Rate Corridor - The 7-day and 14-day OMOs are seen as new partners in maintaining liquidity, while the interest rate corridor serves as an old tool to stabilize short-term rate fluctuations. The upper limit of the corridor is the Standing Lending Facility (SLF) rate, which varies with the 7-day OMO rate, maintaining a 100 basis point spread. The lower limit is the Interest on Excess Reserves (IOER), currently at 0.35% [7]. - Narrowing the interest rate corridor could reduce fluctuations in the DR (Deposit Rate) and enhance the effectiveness of interest rate control. Two methods could achieve this: lowering the SLF rate in line with the 7-day OMO rate or reducing the spread above the OMO rate [7][8]. Market Activity - Concerns about whether lowering the SLF rate would lead to increased trading with the central bank and reduce market activity are deemed unfounded. The SLF operation volumes from May to August 2025 were significantly lower than the interbank repo transaction volumes. The current spread between the 7-day SLF and DR007 rates is at a moderate level, suggesting that a reduction in the SLF rate would not lead to excessive reliance on it by market participants [8].