银行利用利率调整,来改变现金流动的金融方式。当银行降息时,把资金存入银行的收益减少,所以降息会导致资金从银行流出,存款变为投资或消费,结果是资金流动性增加。
一般来说,降息会给股票市场带来更多的资金,因此有利于股价上涨。降息会刺激房地产业发展。降息会推动企业贷款扩大再生产,鼓励消费者贷款购买大件商品,使经济逐渐变热。
为了应对疫情对实体经济和金融系统的冲击,美联储率先降息100个基点,进入零利率时代。随后,多个国家及地区央行同样采取降息或其他宽松的货币政策。据不完全统计,2020年上半年,上半年全球各家央行总共降息超过200次。
Major countries' central bank cut interest rates in 2020
对大多数央行而言,首要职责是保就业和合理通胀。央行降息增加资金流动性,促进消费、利好股市。
联邦基金利率很重要,因为许多其他的国内和国际利率与利率直接相关或紧密联系。美联储降息,指的是降低联邦基金利率,降低1%后,为0%至0.25%。简而言之,该利率是美国银行和银行之间互相借钱时的利率。
如果这一利率升高,银行在给企业或个人放贷时的利率也水涨船高。反之,降息后,银行放贷的利率就会降低,将刺激企业和个人贷款,借钱更容易,一般来讲其效果是整体经济得到刺激,变得更加活跃。
美联储通过调节这一利率来达到一个目的——保持美国最大限度的就业和价格稳定。在经济疲软时降息,向市场注入更多流动性资金,刺激经济。在经济强劲时加息,减少货币供应,防止经济过热。
The Fed lowers interest rates to stimulate economic growth. Lower financing costs can encourage borrowing and investing. However, when rates are too low, they can spur excessive growth and perhaps inflation. Inflation eats away at purchasing power and could undermine the sustainability of the desired economic expansion.
On the other hand, when there is too much growth, the Fed will raise interest rates. Rate increases are used to slow inflation and return growth to more sustainable levels. Rates cannot get too high, because more expensive financing could lead the economy into a period of slow growth or even contraction.
The Fed adjusts this interest rate to achieve one goal-to maintain maximum employment and price stability in the United States. When the economy is weak, interest rates will be cut to inject more liquidity into the market to stimulate the economy. Raise interest rates when the economy is strong, reduce the money supply, and prevent the economy from overheating.
因为货币的价格下降,使得企业运营成本降低,也使得股市融资成本降低,这都会刺激更多资金向股市流动,也会刺激企业投资。
例如,今年三月,美联储宣布大幅降息50个基点,受到大幅降息的消息影响,当天一路下跌的美股立刻直线上扬,但是持续时间不长,走势震荡。并不是每一次美联储降息,股市都一定会大涨。但是,像这样的情况,更加加深了广大投资者的信念:即如果央行降息的话,对于股市来说就是个好消息。
标普500指数与美联储利率改变
红点对应于美联储利率的下降,绿点对应于美联储利率的上调
图:YCHARTS
When rates go down, borrowing becomes cheaper, making large purchases on credit more affordable, such as home mortgages, auto loans, and credit card expenses.
When rates go up, borrowing is more expensive, putting a damper on consumption. Higher rates, however, do benefit savers who get more favorable interest on deposit accounts.
(1)存款利息降低,国内的通胀率上升,这使得无风险投资收益减少,会迫使存款人把存款拿出来,用于消费和投资。
(2)央行降息,会使贷款利率下降,企业的融资成本降低,利润空间增大,企业就会增加投资,扩大生产规模,会购买原料、机器设备、建造厂房等,这些需求都能拉动消费。
(3)银行的利息下降,货币超发,会导致国债利率带也呈现下行趋势,而本币贬值,此举有利于促进出口,又因为本币贬值,导致进口商品价格上涨,国内消费更会倾向于购买本国的产品。
降息只能对刺激消费起到间接性作用,要想刺激消费增长,靠降息可能会收效甚微。