4 December 2023
Central clearinghouses, with over $1 trillion in liquid assets, can worsen financial stress by creating “margin spirals.” During crises, increased margin requirements by these clearinghouses can lead to widespread asset sell-offs, escalating market volatility. The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) highlights concerns about their $600 billion government bond holdings, which can exacerbate sell-offs when their value drops. This risk transforms counterparty risk into systemic liquidity risk. The BIS emphasizes that such spirals, even from small market segments, can threaten the broader financial system’s stability.