Will regulatory pressure on home loan banks shrink the federal funds market?
Core argument: Almost all lending in the federal funds market comes from Federal Home Loan Banks, which are ineligible for interest on reserves and lend in the funds market to earn a return on their cash.
The Federal Funds market has been in an undead state for over a decade, but may now finally wither away and allow Secured Overnight Funding Rate to become the official policy rate. Almost all lending in the funds market is from Federal Home Loan Banks, who are ineligible for interest on reserves and lend in the funds market to earn a return on their cash. Regulators are encouraging Federal Home Loan Banks to shift the composition of their cash investments away from fed funds and into interest bearing deposit accounts. The Fed funds market will likely shrink as Federal Home Loan Banks shift their cash investments towards interest bearing deposit accounts.

