This paper carries out an empirical investigation of the impact on bond spreads of the announcement, purchases and exit from the SNB's bond purchase program in 2009-2010. We find evidence in favor of a narrowing yield spread of covered bonds as a result of the program. The effect materialized in...

In the aftermath of the financial crisis the Fed pursued a “near zero” overnight interest floor and initiatives to manipulate the size and composition of central bank assets. Bernanke referred to this policy as “credit easing.” I overview the succession of unconventional Fed measures...