Foreign central banks typically lend dollars to banks in their countries, which conduct much of their business in dollars.
The Fed has already expanded dollar “swap lines” with 14 central banks to exchange dollars for an equal amount of foreign currency. The new program will let central banks sell Treasurys to the Fed, with an agreement to buy them back the next day — a trade known as a “repurchase agreement” or repo. The central banks pay a small interest rate on what is essentially an overnight loan, which can be repeated.
As the coronavirus has disrupted economies and financial markets, banks and other financial institutions have sought to sell Treasurys and other securities to raise cash. This selling pressure has, on some days, driven up Treasury yields and clogged financial markets as sellers have struggled to find buyers. The Fed’s overseas lending program will enable foreign central banks to convert Treasuries to cash without having to sell them.
The program will start April 6 and continue for at least six months, the Fed said.
