Short-term Swap Line Explained: Meaning, Types, Process, and Examples
A **Short-term Swap Line** is a central-bank tool used to obtain foreign currency liquidity for a limited period, usually during market stress or as a precautionary backstop. In plain terms, one central bank temporarily exchanges its own currency with another central bank so it can supply needed foreign currency—often U.S. dollars or euros—to banks in its jurisdiction. This matters because foreign-currency funding shortages can disrupt trade, payments, lending, and financial stability very quickly.