LIBOR-OIS Spread

The LIBOR-OIS spread is the difference between the LIBOR and the overnight index swap rate, and is commensurate with the amount of perceived credit risk in the interbank lending market. Ordinarily, when the central banks lower their rates of interest, both the LIBOR and the OIS rates decline with it. However, when banks are unsure of the creditworthiness of other banks, they charge higher interest rates to compensate them for the greater risk. The LIBOR-OIS spread is a better measure of credit risk in the interbank lending market than the LIBOR itself because the LIBOR is influenced by:

1. the rates set by central banks;
2. the credit risk in lending to other banks.

Because the overnight index swap rate is based on the rates set by central banks, subtracting it from the LIBOR shows the amount of the interest rate that is being charged for the credit risk.

Why a High LIBOR-OIS Spread Indicates a Limited Availability of Credit

Banks must have a certain amount of reserves to conduct their business. During the course of the day, they may receive or pay out more money than expected. Depositors, for instance, may make big deposits or big withdrawals—banks can't know ahead of time what the net demand will be, hence, they need to keep a certain amount of cash to service customers. However, banks don't want to keep more than they need, because cash kept in vaults doesn't earn any interest, and, reserves held in central banks pay little or no interest. So banks with excess funds lend to banks needing funds. When this interbank lending market declines because of higher interest rates, then banks are forced to hold more cash to conduct business; hence, they lend less, not only to other banks, but also to consumers. Less lending means there is less money in the economy, which lowers demands for products and services, causing their prices to decrease—deflation.

Generally, credit risk increases interest rates more for longer term loans than for short-term loans. The spreads for the 1-month and 3-month LIBOR-OIS rates have been reported by the press as representative of the credit risk in interbank lending.

The 1-month LIBOR-OIS spread has averaged 6 basis points from January, 2006 to August 1, 2007. During the Credit Crisis of 2007 and 2008, the maximum spread was over 100 basis points.

In this 3-year graph of the 1-month LIBOR-OIS spread for the United States dollar (USD), the marked increase in the difference of the 2 rates is evident starting at the beginning of the Credit Crisis in August, 2007, with a wider spread in September, October, and November of 2008 indicating worsening conditions. As you can see in the graph, prior to August, 2007, both the LIBOR and the OIS rates were high because the Federal Reserve, which is the central bank of the United States, raised their rates. After the beginning of the credit crisis, the Federal Reserve started lowering rates, and the OIS rate has declined with it. The LIBOR, however, has declined sporadically and not nearly as much as the OIS rate, because banks couldn't be sure which banks were creditworthy; hence, they charged higher interbank lending rates, which is what the LIBOR measures.

Bloomberg.com: Investment Tools http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/cbuilder?ticker1=USSOA%3AIND Screen clipping taken: 11/30/2008

Here's an updated graph ending on March 19, 2009.

Bloomberg.com: Investment Tools http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/cbuilder?ticker1=USSOA%3AIND Screen clipping taken: 3/20/2009, 12:02 AM

External Links

Interest-Rate Contracts May Be Best Gauge of Fed Plan (Update2)