Intervention to Save Hong Kong: Counter-Speculation in Financial Markets

by Charles A.E. Goodhart, Dai Lu

By August 1998, the Hong Kong economy had become threatened not only by the natural consequences of the Asian crisis (1997-98), but also by waves of speculation, betting that the authorities would be forced to abandon the linked exchange rate (to the US dollar). When facing previous speculative attacks (starting October 1997), the authorities had followed traditional policies of raising interest rates. But by August 1998, such policies had helped to batter asset markets; property prices and output were falling, and confidence was low. Moreover, the speculators had developed an ingenious 'double play', simultaneously selling both the foreign exchange market and the Hang Seng equity market short; whether the authorities used an interest rate defense, or abandoned the 'link', the speculators would gain either way. So, the authorities decided on a bold, unexpected and unconventional response to reports of a further attack. They would undertake counter-intervention, again both in the
equity and foreign exchange markets. This book provides a fascinating story in itself, and insights into what lessons academics and practitioners can learn from the turbulent events of the time.

224 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Prof. Charles Albert Eric Goodhart, Ph.D. (Harvard University, 1963; B.A., Cambridge University, 1960, CBE, FBA is the Norman Sosnow Professor of Banking and Finance at the London School of Economics. Before joining the London School of Economics in 1985, he worked at the Bank of England for seventeen years as a monetary adviser, becoming a Chief Adviser in 1980.

During 1986, Prof. Goodhart helped to found, with Prof. Mervyn King, the Financial Markets Group at London School of Economics, which began its operation at the start of 1987. In 1997, he was appointed one of the outside independent members of the Bank of England’s new Monetary Policy Committee until May 2000.

Taken from here.