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The views expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views of the IMF, its Executive Board, or IMF management.

Foreign exchange. --- Monetary policy.

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The COVID-19 pandemic led many emerging market central banks to adopt, for the first time, unconventional policies in the form of asset purchase programs. In this study, we analyze the effects of these announcements on domestic financial markets using both event studies and local projections methodology. We find that these asset purchase announcements lowered bond yields, did not lead to a depreciation of domestic currencies, and did not have much effect on equities. While the immediate effect of asset purchases appears positive, further consideration of the risks and longer-term effects of unconventional monetary policies is needed. We highlight the trade-offs involved with the implementation of these measures, and discuss their risks. This working paper adds to the debate on how asset purchase programs should be a regular part of the emerging market policy toolkit.

Banks and Banking --- Finance: General --- Investments: Bonds --- Money and Monetary Policy --- Money Supply --- Credit --- Money Multipliers --- Central Banks and Their Policies --- International Finance: General --- Information and Market Efficiency --- Event Studies --- International Financial Markets --- General Financial Markets: General (includes Measurement and Data) --- Interest Rates: Determination, Term Structure, and Effects --- Monetary Systems --- Standards --- Regimes --- Government and the Monetary System --- Payment Systems --- Finance --- Investment & securities --- Banking --- Monetary economics --- Bond yields --- Yield curve --- Central bank policy rate --- Stock markets --- Currencies --- Interest rates --- Bonds --- Stock exchanges --- Money --- South Africa