FOMC Minutes

Meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee March 31, 1981 Minutes of Actions A meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee was held in the offices of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System in Washington, D. C., on Tuesday, March 31, 1981 at 9:00 a.m. PRESENT: Mr. Volcker, Chairman Mr. Solomon, Vice Chairman Mr. Boehne Mr. Boykin Mr. Corrigan Mr. Partee Mr. Rice Mr. Schultz Mrs. Teeters Mr. Wallich Messrs. Balles, Black, Ford, and Winn, Alternate Members of the Federal Open Market Committee Messrs. Guffey, Morris, and Roos, Presidents of the Federal Reserve Banks of Kansas City, Boston, and St. Louis, respectively Mr. Axilrod, Staff Director Mr. Altmann, Secretary Mr. Bernard, Assistant Secretary Mrs. Steele, Deputy Assistant Secretary Mr. Petersen, General Counsel Mr. Oltman, Deputy General Counsel Mr. Mannion, Assistant General Counsel Mr. Kichline, Economist Messrs. Burns, Danforth, R. Davis, Ettin, Keir, Mullineaux, Prell, Scheld, Truman, and Zeisel, Associate Economists Mr. Sternlight, Manager for Domestic Operations, System Open Market Account Mr. Coyne, Assistant to the Board of Governors Mr. Siegman, Associate Director, Division of International Finance, Board of Governors Mr. Smith 1/, Assistant Director, Division of International Finance, Board of Governors 1/ Entered the meeting prior to the action to amend the Authorization for Foreign Currency Operations and left following the action to reaffirm the agreement to "warehouse" foreign currencies. 3/31/81 - 2 - Mr. Doyle, First Vice President, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago Messrs. Balbach, J. Davis, T. Davis, Eisenmenger, Keran, Koch, and Parthemos, Senior Vice Presidents, Federal Reserve Banks of St. Louis, Cleveland, Kansas City, Boston, San Francisco, Atlanta, and Richmond, respectively Ms. Greene and Mr. Syron, Vice Presidents, Federal Reserve Banks of New York and Boston, respectively Ms. Lovett, Securities Trading Officer, Federal Reserve Bank of New York In the agenda for this meeting, it was reported that advices of the election of the following members and alternate members of the Federal Open Market Committee for the year commencing March 1, 1981, had been received by the Secretary and the named individuals had executed their oaths of office. The elected members and alternate membes were as follows: Edward G. Boehne, President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, with Robert P. Black, President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, as alternate; Anthony M. Solomon, President of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, with Thomas M. Timlen, First Vice President of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, as alternate; Robert P. Mayo, President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, with Willis J. Winn, President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, as alternate; Robert H. Boykin, President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, with William F. Ford, President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, as alternate; E. Gerald Corrigan, President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, with John J. Balles, President of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, as alternate. By unanimous vote, the following officers of the Federal Open Market Committee were elected to serve until the election of their successors at the first meeting of the Committee after February 28, 1982, with the understanding that in the event of the discontinuance of their official connection with the - 3 - 3/31/81 Board of Governors or with a Federal Reserve Bank, as the case might be, they would cease to have any official connection with the Federal Open Market Committee: Paul A. Vocker Anthony M. Solomon Chairman Vice Chairman Stephen H. Axilrod Murray A. Altmann Normand R. V. Bernard Nancy M. Steele Neal L. Petersen James H. Oltman Robert E. Mannion James L. Kichline Alan R. Holmes Staff Director Secretary Assistant Secretary Deputy Assistant Secretary General Counsel Deputy General Counsel Assistant General Counsel Economist Adviser for Market Operations Joseph E. Burns, John P. Danforth, Richard G. Davis, Edward E. Ettin, George B. Henry, Peter M. Keir, Donald J. Mullineaux, Michael J. Prell, Karl A. Scheld, Edwin M. Truman, Joseph S. Zeisel Associate Economists Secretary's note: On March 4, 1981, certain continuing authorizations of the Committee listed below, had been distributed by the Secretary with the advice that, in accordance with procedures approved by the Committee, they were being called to the Committee's attention before the March organization meeting to give members an opportunity to raise any questions they had concerning them. Members were asked to so indicate if they wished to have any of the authorizations in question placed on the agenda for consideration at this meeting, and no such requests were received. The authorizations in question were as follows: 1. Procedures for allocation of securities in the System Open Market Account. 2. List of Treasury Department officials to whom weekly reports on open market operations may be sent. 3. Authority for the Chairman to appoint a Federal Reserve Bank as agent to operate the System Account in case the New York Bank is unable to function. - 4 - 3/31/81 4. Resolutions providing for continued operations of the Committee and for certain actions by the Reserve Banks during an emergency. 5. Resolution relating to examinations of the System Open Market Account. 6. Guidelines for the conduct of System operations in Federal agency issues. 7. Regulation relating to Open Market Operations of Federal Reserve Banks. 8. Rules of Organization, Rules Regarding Availability of Information, and Rules of Procedure. By unanimous vote, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York was selected to execute transactions for the System Open Market Account until the adjourn ment of the first meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee after February 28, 1982. By unanimous vote, Peter D. Sternlight and Scott E. Pardee were selected to serve at the pleasure of the Committee in the capacities of Manager for Domestic Operations, System Opem Market Account, and Manager for F reign Operations, System Open Market Account, respectively, on the under standing that their selection was subject to their being satisfactory to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Secretary's note: Advice was subsequently received that the selections indicated above were satisfactory to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. By unanimous vote, the minutes of actions taken at the meetings of the Federal Open Market Committee held on February 2-3, 1981, and February 24, 1981, were approved. By unanimous vote, System open market transactions in foreign currencies during the period February 2 through March 30, 1981, were ratified. - 5 - 3/31/81 By unanimous vote the Authorization for Foreign Currency Operations was amended to read as follows: AUTHORIZATION FOR FOREIGN CURRENCY OPERATIONS 1. The Federal Open Market Committee authorizes and directs the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, for System Open Market Account, to the extent necessary to carry out the Committee's foreign currency directive and express authorizations by the Committee pursuant thereto, and in conformity with such procedural instructions as the Committee may issue from time to time: A. To purchase and sell the following foreign currencies in the form of cable transfers through spot or foward transactions on the open market at home and abroad, including transactions with the U. S. Treasury, with the U. S. Exchange Stabilization Fund established by Section 10 of the Gold Reserve Act of 1934, with foreign monetary authorities, with the Bank for International Settlements, and with other international financial institutions. Austrian schillings Belgian francs Canadian dollars Danish kroner Pounds sterling French francs German marks Italian lire Japanese yen Mexican pesos Netherlands guilders Norwegian kroner Swedish kronor Swiss francs B. To hold balances of, and to have outstanding forward contracts to receive or to deliver, the foreign currencies listed in paragraph A above. C. To draw foreign currencies and to permit foreign banks to draw dollars under the reciprocal currency arrangements listed in paragraph 2 below, provided that drawings by either party to any such arrangement shall be fully liquidated within 12 months after any amount outstanding at that time was first drawn, unless the Committee, because of exceptional circumstances, specifically authorizes a delay. D. To maintain an overall open position in all foreign currencies not exceeding $8.0 billion. For this purpose, the overall open position in all - 6 - 3/31/81 foreign currencies is defined as the sum (disregarding signs) of net posi tions in individual currencies. The net position in a single foreign currency is defined as holdings of balances in that currency, plus out standing contracts for future receipt, minus outstanding contracts for future delivery of that currency, i.e., as the sum of these elements with due regard to sign. 2. The Federal Open Market Committee directs the Federal Reserve Bank of New York to maintain reciprocal currency arrangements ("swap" arrangements) for the System Open Market Account for periods up to a maximum of 12 months with the following foreign banks, which are among those designated by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System under Section 214.5 of Regulation N, Relations with Foreign Banks and Bankers, and with the approval of the Committee to renew such arrangements on maturity: Foreign bank Amount of arrangement (millions of dollars equivalent) Austrian National Bank National Bank of Belgium Bank of Canada National Bank of Denmark Bank of England 250 1,000 2,000 250 3,000 Bank of France German Federal Bank Bank of Italy Bank of Japan Bank of Mexico Netherlands Bank 2,000 6,000 3,000 5,000 700 500 Bank of Norway Bank of Sweden Swiss National Bank Bank for International Settlements: Dollars against Swiss francs Dollars against authorized European currencies other than Swiss francs 250 500 1/ 4,000 600 1,250 Any changes in the terms of existing swap arrangements, and the proposed terms of any new arrangements that may be authorized, shall be referred for review and approval to the Committee. 1/ Pursuant to an action taken by the Committee on May 20, 1980, the amount of the reciprocal currency arrangement with the Bank of Sweden was raised to $500 million, effective May 23, 1980, for a period of one year, after which it will revert to its former level of $300 million. 3/31/81 -7- 3. All transactions in foreign currencies undertaken under paragraph 1(A) above shall, unless otherwise expressly authorized by the Committee, For the purpose of providing an investment be at prevailing market rates. return on System holdings of foreign currencies, or for the purpose of adjusting interest rates paid or received in connection with swap drawings, transactions with foreign central banks may be undertaken at non-market exchange rates. 4. It shall be the normal practice to arrange with foreign central banks In making operating for the coordination of foreign currency transactions. arrangements with foreign central banks on System holdings of foreign currencies, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York shall not commit itself to maintain any specific balance, unless authorized by the Federal Open Market Committee. Any agreements or understandings concerning the administration of the accounts maintained by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York with the foreign banks designated by the Board of Governors under Section 214.5 of Regulation N shall be referred for review and approval to the Committee. 5. Foreign currency holdings shall be invested insofar as practicable, considering needs for minimum working balances. Such investments shall be in liquid form, and generally have no more than 12 months remaining to maturity. When appropriate in connection with arrangements to provide investment facilities for foreign currency holdings, U. S. Government securities may be purchased from foreign central banks under agreements for repurchase of such securities within 30 calendar days. 6. All operations undertaken pursuant to the preceding paragraphs shall be reported promptly to the Foreign Currency Subcommittee and the Committee. The Foreign Currency Subcommittee consists of the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Committee, the Vice Chairman of the Board of Governors, and such other member of the Board as the Chairman may designate (or in the absence of members of the Board serving on the Subcommittee, other Board Members designated by the Chairman as alternates, and in the absence of the Vice Chairman of the Committee, his alternate). Meetings of the Subcommittee shall be called at the request of any member, or at the request of the Manager for Foreign Operations for the purposes of reviewing recent or contemplated operations and of consulting with the Manager on other matters relating to his responsibilities. At the request of any member of the Subcommittee, questions arising from such reviews and consultations shall be referred for determination to the Federal Open Market Committee. 7. The Chairman is authorized: A. With the approval of the Committee, to enter into any needed agreement or understanding with the Secretary of the Treasury about the division of responsibility for foreign currency operations between the System and the Treasury; B. To keep the Secretary of the Treasury fully advised concerning System foreign currency operations, and to consult with the Secretary on policy matters relating to foreign currency operations; - 8 - 3/31/81 C. From time to time, to transmit appropriate reports and information to the National Advisory Council on International Monetary and Financial Policies. 8. Staff officers of the Committee are authorized to transmit pertinent information on System foreign currency operations to appropriate officials of the Treasury Department. 9. All Federal Reserve Banks shall participate in the foreign currency operations for System Account in accordance with paragraph 3 G(1) of the Board of Governors' Statement of Procedure with Respect to Foreign Relationships of Federal Reserve Banks dated January 1, 1944. By unanimous vote, the Foreign Currency Directive shown below was reaffirmed: FOREIGN CURRENCY DIRECTIVE 1. System operations in foreign currencies shall generally be directed at countering disorderly market conditions, provided that market exchange rates for the U. S. dollar reflect actions and behavior consistent with the IMF Article IV, Section 1. 2. To achieve this end the System shall: A. Undertake spot and forward purchases and sales of foreign exchange. B. Maintain reciprocal currency ("swap") arrangements with selected foreign central banks and with the Bank for International Settlements. C. Cooperate in other respects with central banks of other countries and with international monetary institutions. 3. Transactions may also be undertaken: A. To adjust System balances in light of probable future needs for currencies. B. To provide means for meeting System and Treasury commitments in particular currencies, and to facilitate operations of the Exchange Stabilization Fund. C. For such other purposes as may be expressly authorized by the Committee. 4. System foreign currency operations shall be conducted: A. In close and continuous consultation and cooperation with the United States Treasury; 3/31/81 B. - 9 - In cooperation, as appropriate, with foreign monetary authorities; and C. In a manner consistent with the obligations of the United States in the International Monetary Fund regarding exchange arrangements under the IMF Article IV. By unanimous vote, the Procedural Instructions with respect to Foreign Currency Operations shown below were reaffirmed: PROCEDURAL INSTRUCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO FOREIGN CURRENCY OPERATIONS In conducting operations pursuant to the authorization and direction of the Federal Open Market Committee as set forth in the Authorization for Foreign Currency Operations and the Foreign Currency Directive, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, through the Manager for Foreign Operations, System Open Market Account, shall be guided by the following procedural understandings with respect to consultations and clearance with the Committee, the Foreign Currency Subcommittee, and the Chairman of the Committee. All operations undertaken pursuant to such clearances shall be reported promptly to the Committee. 1. The Manager for Foreign Operations shall clear with the Subcommittee (or with the Chairman, if the Chairman believes that consultation with the Subcommittee is not feasible in the time available): A. Any operation that would result in a change in the System's overall open position in foreign currencies exceeding $300 million on any day or $600 million since the most recent regular meeting of the Committee. B. Any operation that would result in a change on any day in the System's net position in a single foreign currency exceeding $150 million, or $300 million when the operation is associated with repayment of swap drawings. C. Any operation that might generate a substantial volume of trading in a particular currency by the System, even though the change in the System's net position in that currency might be less than the limits specified in 1B. D. Any swap drawing proposed by a foreign bank not exceeding the larger of (i) $200 million or (ii) 15 percent of the size of the swap arrange ment. 2. The Manager for Foreign Operations shall clear with the Committee (or with the Subcommittee, if the Subcommittee believes that consultation with the full Committee is not feasible in the time available, or with the Chair man, if the Chairman believes that consultation with the Subcommittee is not feasible in the time available): - 10 - 3/31/81 A. Any operation that would result in a change in the System's overall open position in foreign currencies exceeding $1.5 billion since the most recent regular meeting of the Committee. B. Any swap drawing proposed by a foreign bank exceeding the larger of (i) $200 million or (ii) 15 percent of the size of the swap arrangement. 3. The Manager for Foreign Operations shall also consult with the Sub committee or the Chairman about proposed swap drawings by the System, and about any operations that are not of a routine character. By unanimous vote, the Committee reaffirmed the agreement of January 17, 1977, to "warehouse" foreign currencies for the Exchange Stabili zation Fund and for the Treasury on the terms agreed upon by the Committee at its meeting on March 18, 1980, with the understanding that the agreement would be subject to annual review. By unanimous vote, System open market transactions in Government securities, agency obligations, and bankers acceptances during the period February 2 through March 30, 1981, were ratified. By unanimous vote, the Authorization for Domestic Open Market Operations shown below was reaffirmed: AUTHORIZATION FOR DOMESTIC OPEN MARKET OPERATIONS 1. The Federal Open Market Committee authorizes and directs the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, to the extent necessary to carry out the most recent domestic policy directive adopted at a meeting of the Committee: (a) To buy or sell U. S. Government securities, including securities of the Federal Financing Bank, and securities that are direct obligations of, or fully guaranteed as to principal and interest by, any agency of the United States in the open market, from or to securities dealers and foreign and international accounts maintained at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, on a cash, regular, or deferred delivery basis, for the System Open Market Account at market prices, and, for such Account, to exchange maturing U. S. Government and Federal agency securities with the Treasury or the individual agencies or to allow them to mature without replacement; provided that the aggregate amount of U. S. Government and Federal agency securities held in such Account (including forward commitments) at the close of business on the day of a meeting of the Committee at which action is taen with respect to a domestic policy directive shall not be increased or decreased by more than $3.0 billion during the period com mencing with the opening of business on the day following such meeting and ending with the close of business on the day of the next such meeting; 3/31/81 - 11 - (b) When appropriate, to buy or sell in the open market, from or dealers and foreign accounts maintained at the Federal acceptance to Reserve Bank of New York, on a cash, regular, or deferred delivery basis, for the account of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York at market discount rates, prime bankers acceptances with maturities of up to nine months at the time of acceptance that (1) arise out of the current shipment of goods between countries or within the United States, or (2) arise out of the storage within the United States of goods under contract of sale or expected to move into the channels of trade within a reasonable time and that are secured throughout their life by a warehouse receipt or similar document conveying title to the underlying goods; provided that the aggregate amount of bankers acceptances held at any one time shall not exceed $100 million; (c) To buy U. S. Government securities, obligations that are direct obligations of, or fully guaranteed as to principal and interest by, any agency of the United States, and prime bankers acceptances of the types authorized for purchase under 1(b) above, from dealers for the account of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York under agreements for repurchase of such securities, obligations, or acceptances in 15 calendar days or less, at rates that, unless otherwise expressly authorized by the Committee, shall be determined by competitive bidding, after applying reasonable limitations on the volume of agreements with individual dealers; provided that in the event Government securities or agency issues covered by any such agreement are not repurchased by the dealer pursuant to the agreement or a renewal thereof, they shall be sold in the market or transferred to the System Open Market Account; and provided further that in the event bankers acceptances covered by any such agreement are not repurchased by the seller, they shall continue to be held by the Federal Reserve Bank or shall be sold in the open market. 2. The Federal Open Market Committee authorizes and directs the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (or, under special circumstances, such as when the New York Reserve Bank is closed, any other Federal Reserve Bank) (a) to lend to the Treasury such amounts of securities held in the System Open Market Account as may be necesary from time to time for the temporary accommodation of the Treasury, under such conditions as the Committee may specify; and (b) to purchase directly from the Treasury for renewable periods not to exceed thirty days, when authorized by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System pursuant to an affirmative vote of not less than five members, for its own account (with discretion, in cases where it seems desirable, to issue participations to one or more Federal Reserve Banks) such amounts of special short-term certificates of indebted ness as may be necessary from time to time for the temporary accommodation of the Treasury, provided that the rate charged on such certificates shall be a rate 1/4 of 1 percent below the discount rate of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York at the time of such purchases and provided that the total amount of such certificates held at any one time by the Federal Reserve Banks shall not exceed $2 billion. - 12 - 3/31/81 3. In order to ensure the effective conduct of open market operations, the Federal Open Market Committee authorizes and directs the Federal Reserve Banks to lend U. S. Government securities held in the System Open Market Account to Government securites dealers and to banks participating in Government securities clearing arrangements conducted through a Federal Reserve Bank, under such instructions as the Committee may specify from time to time. 4. In order to ensure the effective conduct of open market operations, while assisting in the provision of short-term investments for foreign and international accounts maintained at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, the Federal Open Market Committee authorizes and directs the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (a) for System Open Market Account, to sell U. S. Govern ment securities to such foreign and international accounts on the bases set forth in paragraph 1(a) under agreements providing for the resale by such accounts of those securities within 15 calendar days on terms com parable to those available on such transactions in the market; and (b) for New York Bank account, when appropriate, to undertake with dealers, subject to the conditions imposed on purchases and sales of securities in paragraph 1(c), repurchase agreements in U. S. Government and agency securities, and to arrange corresponding sale and repurchase agreements between its own account and foreign and international accounts maintained at the Bank. Transactions undertaken with such accounts under the pro visions of this paragraph may provide for a service fee when appropriate. It was agreed that the authorization for the lending of Government securities from the System Open Market Account, contained in paragraph 3 of the Authorization for Domestic Open Market Operations, should be retained at this time, subject to annual review. With Mr. Wallich dissenting, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York was authorized and directed, until otherwise directed by the Committee, to execute transactions in the System Account in accordance with the following domestic policy directive: The information reviewed at this meeting suggests that real GNP,expanded substantially in the first quarter of 1981, but there were signs of a slowing of the expansion in economic activity during the quarter; prices on the average continued to rise rapidly. While retail sales advanced appreciably over the first two months of the year, industrial production declined in February after three months of diminishing gains and housing starts dropped from the moderate pace that had prevailed during the preceding six months. Nonfarm payroll employment changed little in February following a large in crease in January; the unemployment rate, at 7.3 percent, was essentially unchanged. Over the first two months of 1981, the rise in the index of average hourly earnings was little changed from the rapid pace recorded during 1980. 3/31/81 - 13 - The weighted average value of the dollar against major foreign currencies rose further following the Committee's meeting in early February to a peak at midmonth but subse quently declined somewhat on balance. Short-term interest rates in continental European countries have risen appreciably since mid-February, absolutely and in relation to interest rates on dollar-denominated assets. The U.S. trade deficit in January and February was at about the average monthly rate of the final quarter of 1980. M-1A and M-1B, adjusted for the estimated effects of shifts into NOW accounts, changed little over the first two months of the year but expanded substantially in the first half of March. Growth in M-2 accelerated in the course.of the quarter and partial data suggest considerable strength in March, in part because of large flows into money market mutual funds. On balance since early February, short-term market interest rates have fallen substantially while longer term market rates have risen somewhat. The Federal Open Market Committee seeks to foster monetary and financial conditions that will help to reduce inflation, encourage economic recovery, and contribute to a sustainable pattern of international transactions. At its meeting in early February, the Committee agreed that these objectives would be furthered by growth of M-1A, M-1B, M-2, and M-3 from the fourth quarter of 1980 to the fourth quarter of 1981 within ranges of 3 to 5-1/2 percent, 3-1/2 to 6 percent, 6 to 9 percent, and 6-1/2 to 9-1/2 percent respectively, abstracting from the im pact of introduction of NOW accounts on a nationwide basis. The associated range for bank credit was 6 to 9 percent. These ranges will be reconsidered as conditions warrant. In the short-run the Committee seeks behavior of reserve aggregates consistent with growth in M-1B from March to June at an annual rate of 5-1/2 percent or somewhat less, after allowance for the impact of flows into NOW accounts, and growth in M-2 at an annual rate of about 10-1/2 percent. It is recognized that shifts into NOW accounts will continue to distort measured growth in M-1B to an unpredictable extent, and operational reserve paths will be developed in the light of evaluation of those distortions. If it appears during the period before the next meeting that fluctuations in the federal funds rate, taken over a period of time, within a range of 13 to 18 percent are likely to be incon sistent with the monetary and related reserve paths, the Manager for Domestic Operations is promptly to notify the Chairman, who will then decide whether the situation calls for supplementary instructions from the Committee. - 3/31/81 14 It was agreed that the next meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee would be held on Tuesday, May 19, 1981, at 9:30 a.m. The meeting adjourned. Secretary

Federal Reserve (1981, March 30). FOMC Minutes. Fomc Minutes, Federal Reserve. https://whenthefedspeaks.com/doc/fomc_minutes_19810331

@misc{wtfs_fomc_minutes_19810331,
  author = {Federal Reserve},
  title = {FOMC Minutes},
  year = {1981},
  month = {Mar},
  howpublished = {Fomc Minutes, Federal Reserve},
  url = {https://whenthefedspeaks.com/doc/fomc_minutes_19810331},
  note = {Retrieved via When the Fed Speaks corpus}
}