FINMA Adjusts Market Risk Model Approach to Address Procyclicality
In context of the COVID-19 outbreak, FINMA has published guidance granting simplifications in the market risk model approach to weaken the volatility-related procyclicality. This relief affects the number of backtesting exceptions that are relevant for the calculation of own funds and are limited until July 01, 2020. In line with the recent announcement by BCBS and IOSCO, FINMA also extended the deadline for completing the final two implementation phases of the margin requirements for non-centrally cleared OTC derivatives by one year. In addition, FINMA welcomed the announcement of UBS Group AG and Credit Suisse Group AG to postpone half of their planned dividend distributions for 2019, despite their position of capital strength.
Driven by the abrupt increase in volatility due to the COVID-19 pandemic, institutions that apply a model approach to market risk are recording an increased number of backtesting exceptions. Such an exception occurs if the loss incurred on a single day is greater than the loss indicated by the model. Above a certain number of exceptions, an increasing supplement is added to the bank-specific multiplier, resulting in an immediate and substantial increase to the minimum capital requirements for market risks. Most exceptions are not due to shortcomings of the model, but due to the increase in volatility. To mitigate this volatility-related heightened procyclicality, FINMA is introducing the following exemptions for institutions authorized to apply the model approach to market risk, pursuant to Articles 82 and 88 of the Capital Adequacy Ordinance:
- The number of exceptions that result in an increase in the bank-specific multiplier pursuant to margin no. 332 of FINMA Circular 2008/20 on "Market risks – banks” and consequently to the minimum capital requirements for market risks pursuant to Article 88 of Capital Adequacy Ordinance will be frozen at the level of February 01, 2020 until July 01, 2020.
- Exceptions must continue to be reported in accordance with margin no. 333 of FINMA Circular 2008/20. Within one month of new exceptions occurring, the bank must submit an analysis of their causes. It must investigate whether the exceptions remain even after the re-calibrations of the value-at-risk model conducted regularly in accordance with the defined process. Based on this analysis, FINMA reserves the right to demand that new exceptions be considered in the bank-specific multiplier in exceptional cases. This exemption is based on Article 4 of the Banking Act and Article 88 of Capital Adequacy Ordinance. It applies until July 01, 2020 and will be extended by FINMA if necessary.
Related Links
Keywords: Europe, Switzerland, Banking, COVID-19, Dividend Distribution, Capital Adequacy Ordinance, Market Risk, Regulatory Capital, Initial Margin, Derivatives, FINMA
Featured Experts
María Cañamero
Skilled market researcher; growth strategist; successful go-to-market campaign developer
Nicolas Degruson
Works with financial institutions, regulatory experts, business analysts, product managers, and software engineers to drive regulatory solutions across the globe.
Victor Calanog, Ph.D.
Leading economist; commercial real estate; performance forecasting, econometric infrastructure; data modeling; credit risk modeling; portfolio assessment; custom commercial real estate analysis; thought leader.
Previous Article
NBB Issues Reporting and Accounting Guidance to Ease COVID-19 ImpactNext Article
FSB Chair Updates G20 on COVID-19 ResponseRelated Articles
EBA Finalizes Remuneration Standards for Investment Firms in EU
EBA finalized the two sets of draft regulatory technical standards on the identification of material risk-takers and on the classes of instruments used for remuneration under the Investment Firms Directive (IFD).
ECA Recommends Actions to Enhance Resolution Planning for Banks
EC published, in the Official Journal of the European Union, a notification that the European Court of Auditors (ECA) has published a special report on resolution planning in the Single Resolution Mechanism.
BoE Publishes Key Elements of the 2021 Stress Testing for Banks in UK
BoE published a scenario against which it will be stress testing banks in 2021, in addition to setting out the key elements of the 2021 stress test, guidance on the 2021 stress test, and the variable paths for the 2021 stress test.
PRA Proposes Rules on Identity Verification of Depositor Protection
PRA published a consultation paper (CP3/21) proposes rules regarding the timing of identity verification required for eligibility of depositor protection under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS).
FSB Publishes Work Program for 2021
FSB published the work program for 2021, which reflects a strategic shift in priorities in the COVID-19 environment.
FCA Issues Update on Move to New Data Collection Platform
FCA announced that 50% firms have started using the new data collection platform RegData, which is slated to replace the existing platform known Gabriel.
Bundesbank Publishes Derivation Rules for Reporting by Banks
Bundesbank published Version 5.0 of the derivation rules for completeness check at the form level, with respect to the data quality of the European harmonized reporting system.
FED Revises Capital Planning and Stress Testing Requirements for Banks
FED finalized a rule that updates capital planning requirements to reflect the new framework from 2019 that sorts large banks into categories, with requirements that are tailored to the risks of each category.
ECB Releases Results of Bank Lending Survey for Fourth Quarter of 2020
ECB published results of the quarterly lending survey conducted on 143 banks in the euro area.
ESAs Publish Reporting Templates for Financial Conglomerates
ESAs published the final draft implementing technical standards on reporting of intra-group transactions and risk concentration of financial conglomerates subject to the supplementary supervision in EU.
