Basel propose tougher boundary between trading and banking books. The boundary between the trading book and the banking book. The revised requirements will lead to increased demands on the availability of. Switching require approval from senior management as well as regulators. Following the 200708 global financial crisis gfc, bcbs and other regulatory bodies studied the global regulatory framework in an effort to understand what caused or contributed to systemic breakdowns in markets during that period. It was generally agreed that permeability across the tradingbanking book boundary created the opportunity for extreme mismatches between. Implications and actions for banks nevertheless, a number of banks have expressed the concern that frtb will lead to a significant increase in capital requirements which, combined with higher. Bcbs is seeking, for example, to establish a more objective boundary between. Arpit narain global head of financial solutions mathworks linkedin. The difference between the trading and banking book blogger. Basel seeks tougher boundary between banking, trading. Here is an analysis of the governance, position transfer and risk transfer provisions, comparing the existing eu rules with the bcbs standard and eu. A partial list of these boundary related concerns from the bcbs includes.
Instruments comprise financial instruments, foreign exchange fx, and commodities. In summary, the frtb involves a meaningful reorganization of the trading book banking book boundary, with a redefinition of some existing concepts and the creation of several new ones. Implementing the frtb in the european union financial. It offered a degree of choice over how banks would like their assets to be classified and subsequently regulated. The boundary between the trading book and banking book needs to be tightly defined. What the basel proposals on bank tradingbook rules mean. So far, the banks have been deciding if a book was a trading book or a banking book, and there was an incentive to arbitrage from this determination, as there was a difference in the capital requirements for these books. Before bcbs come with defined rules for banking book and trading book boundary, currently different banks have setup their on policy to do the same. The primary issue with the above framework has been a lack of clear demarcation of boundary between the two books, which in the past enabled banks to shift assets to the trading book from the banking book prior to the financial crisis due to lower capital requirements and then do the reverse post financial crisis due to massive loss in. A partial list of these boundaryrelated concerns from the bcbs includes. For this purpose, tradingrelated repostyle transactions are defined as only those that meet the requirements of rbc25. Positions arising from internal hedges are eligible for trading book capital treatment, provided that they are held with trading intent and that the general criteria on trading intent and prudent valuation specified in bipru 1. In this context, stricter limits as well as capital disincentives.
In its previous form, the boundary between the trading book and the banking book was unclear. Thinking strategically both from investment and capital perspective. Operating model, data management and system challenges. Tougher boundary between a banks trading book and its banking book to reduce regulatory arbitrage. Banks have to prove, that fair valued positions are not held with trading intent or do not hedge positions held with trading intent. A trading book is the portfolio of financial instruments held by a brokerage or bank. This would prevent lenders from shifting assets between books to try to lower their capital.
A trading book consists of all instruments that meet the specifications for trading book instruments set out in rbc25. The boundary between banking and trading book should be adapted in a way that should lead to a more objective allocation of positions. A revised boundary between the trading book and banking book the final rules establish a more objective boundary that serves to reduce incentives to arbitrage between the banking book and trading book, especially arbitrage in regulatory capital requirements between the two books. As per the bcbs rules, the revised boundary has been strengthened to discourage regulatory arbitrage. Scope of application and methods of measuring market risk. The valueatrisk var for assets in the trading book is measured on a 10day time horizon under basel ii. For example, banks could move assets between the banking book and the trading book to minimise the capital charge. Basel propose tougher boundary between trading and banking. May 03, 2012 measures designed to improve trading book capital requirements basel propose tougher boundary between trading and banking books investment executive ce corner. The trading book is an accounting term that refers to assets held by a bank that are regularly traded. A revised boundary between the trading book and banking book. Jan 14, 2016 standards minimum capital requirements for market risk effective from 1 january 2019 a.
Home news from the regulators basel propose tougher boundary between trading and banking books. One of the most visible updates to the trading book regime is the revised trading banking book boundary. Differences between interest rate risk irr in the banking and. Basel seeks tougher boundary between banking, trading books. So here are the definitions on how to treat a position either as a banking book or as a trading book. Frtb requires that business be allocated to either the trading or banking book, and not jump the boundary in an arbitrary way. A key new concept is the regulatory trading desk, a standalone unit which will be run by a head trader with its own strategy and risk management. The trading book of the banks refers to assets held by a bank that are regularly traded by the bank. Managing capital and stress testing for traded book assets. What you need to know about the new trading boundary frtb.
Criteria for trading banking book boundary include instrument structure, accounting treatment, availability of prices, portfolio, desk, hedge. The final rules establish a more objective boundary that serves to reduce incentives to. Aug 31, 2015 revised boundary definition and internal risk transfers. Reassignments are more difficult, so it is critical that banks get it right the first time. Regulatory boundary between trading and banking book new defined list of instruments presumed to be included in the trading book or banking book. Measures designed to improve trading book capital requirements. On larger view below methodology gets followed to classify the book as banking and trading.
Definitions have been tightened and new restrictions introduced on transfers and hedges between the trading book and the banking book. Deviation requires explicit approval from supervisor. Strict limits on the movement of instruments between the books after initial designation. Boundary trading book banking book definition of the boundary on an instrument basis tradingintent presumptive lists accounting trading asset or liability trading book marketmaking trading book real estate holdings banking book eg switching limits capital arbitrage mitigation supervisory redesignation. The valueatrisk for assets in the trading book is measured on a 10day time horizon under basel ii norms in order to determine the capital requirement. This chapter sets out the instruments to be included in the trading book which are subject to market risk capital requirements and those to be. A more sophisticated standardized approach sa based on risk factor sensitivities to adequately capture. The basel committee on banking supervision bcbs wants to make banks treat the assets in their trading books more like those in their banking books by forcing them to hold increased capital against assets designated for trading historically, lower capital requirements for trading book assets had encouraged banks to shift assets from the more expensive. Any deviation will be subject to supervisor approval and. Position paper crd vcrr ii international swaps and.
There has been a lot of discussion on how frtb will define whether a book is a banking book or a trading book. Banks face tougher rules on how they differentiate between assets they keep in their banking and trading books, making it harder to dodge capital rules, under proposals published by the basel. Regardless of where they are booked, all repostyle transactions are subject to a banking book counterparty credit risk. The eu published a proposal to amend the existing crr rules to meet the new bcbs standard in november 2016. If a bank does an interest rate swap with a customer, thats trading book. The boundary between the banking book and trading book has been revised to reduce incentives for a bank to arbitrage its regulatory capital requirements between the two regulatory books, with the boundary based on the banks intent to trade or hold a position to maturity. The boundary between the trading book and banking book and the scope of application of the minimum capital requirements for market risk. Strict limits on the movement of instruments between the. This ability to arbitrage the boundary between the banking.
Frtb new market risk framework polarizes regulators and. The boundary between trading and banking books under frtb. The revised boundary between the banking book and the trading book. A fundamental objective of frtb is creating a high, impermeable wall that separates the trading and banking books.
In general, trading book boundary rules restrict banks to transfer instruments between trading and banking book, specially for the regulatory arbitrage purposes. So far, the banks have been deciding if a book was a trading book or a banking book, and there was an incentive to arbitrage from this determination, as. A trading book consists of positions in financial instruments and commodities held either with trading intent or in order to hedge other elements. What is the difference between the trading book and the banking book of a bank. What are the issues with the classification of the trading book and banking book boundary. While the frtb has been finalized, it is important that the revised framework is fully tested and continuously monitored to ensure the calibrations are appropriate and risk sensitive. One of the most immediate issues, from the eus perspective, is addressing capital requirements for market. The precise answer is both complex and involves considerable latitude for opinion. How assets in the trading book and banking book are.
Program issues and impacts impact of the trading bookbanking book boundary regulators are establishing a more objective boundary to mitigate capital arbitrage between the regulatory trading. Under volcker, therefore, trading accounts are not identified as such if the account aligns with the trading book or banking book within the bank. So far, the banks have been deciding if a book was a trading book or a banking book, and there was an. A financial instrument is any contract that gives rise to both a. Revised trading and banking book boundary for market risk. Market risk is defined as the risk of losses arising from movements in market prices.
In summary, the frtb involves a meaningful reorganization of the trading bookbanking book boundary, with a redefinition of some existing concepts and the creation of several new ones. Basel iv revised trading and banking book boundary for market. The boundary between the trading book and banking book and. Therefore, in addition to transparency requirements and reclassification burdens, a presumptive list for each book was published. The boundary between the trading book and banking book. The frtb will tighten desk management standards, trading. What you need to know about the new trading boundary. For this purpose, trading related repostyle transactions are defined as only those that meet the requirements of rbc25. Consistency and crossover with other regulations mifid, bcbs 239, ifrs 9. Revised trading and banking book boundary for market risk 7 frtb still builds on the intent based criteria for tradingbanking book assignment but supplements it with essential prescriptive rules in order to provide more objectiveness. Aug 07, 2016 in general, trading book boundary rules restrict banks to transfer instruments between trading and banking book, specially for the regulatory arbitrage purposes. The change strongly restricts the current discretionary approach in the assignment and future reallocation of an instrument between the banking book and the trading book.
The trading book is required under basel ii and iii to be marked to market daily. What is the difference between a banking book and a. Financial instruments in a trading book are purchased or sold for reasons including to. Traditionally, analysis of trading book and banking book is viewed as distinct from the analysis of the different nature and dynamics of risks. However, some joint dynamics are required to capture the emergence of collateral risk exploring both regulatory and internal risk capital concentration and correlation affects for concentration risk.
Through the frtb rules, bcbs is seeking, for example, to establish a more objective boundary between the trading book and the banking book, and to eliminate capital arbitrage between the regulatory banking and trading books. Capital requirements for market risk protiviti united. Trading book risks cannot be moved to the banking book for regulatory capital purposes. A new definition of the regulatory boundary between the banking book and trading book. Basel capital rules for banks trading books will shift. Internal asset transfers between books need to meet stringent rules in order to limit the ability of banks to move assets from the trading book to the banking book, and vice versa. Basel iv revised trading and banking book boundary for. All other instruments must be included in the banking book. Rbc25 boundary between the banking book and the trading. Data from the european banking authority eba published this autumn, assessing the potential impact of basel iii reforms on eu banks, underlined the importance of the eus forthcoming implementation of global regulatory standards on the capital banks must hold for certain activities. Definitions have been tightened and new restrictions introduced on transfers and hedges between the trading book and the banking book a key new concept is the regulatory trading desk, a standalone unit which will be run by a head trader with its own strategy and risk management structure. May 03, 2012 banks face tougher rules on how they differentiate between assets they keep in their banking and trading books, making it harder to dodge capital rules, under proposals published by the basel. Capital requirements for market risk protiviti united states.