‘Impossible Trinity’ Conundrum Has Caused a Cash Crunch in Asia

  • FX interventions have squeezed liquidity, pushing up rates
  • RBI injects cash via bond purchases, swaps to soften the blow

Rising interbank rates are a sign of a cash shortage that could hit the wider economy.

Photographer: Qilai Shen/Bloomberg
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Some of Asia’s biggest central banks are getting a painful refresher in economic theory.

Monetary authorities in China, India and elsewhere have waged a prolonged campaign against the strong dollar, using a mix of official reserves and opaque derivatives trades to defend their currencies. But their moves have pushed up borrowing costs for local banks just when slowing economies need more liquidity.