ISDA Publishes Update on Global Interest Rate Benchmark Reforms
ISDA published its quarterly update in August 2019. This update highlights that progress has been made on benchmark reform and the focus is now on building liquidity and trading activity in the new risk-free rates. It also highlights that the work can move forward on finalizing and implementing the new fallbacks into derivatives contracts and reducing the systemic threat of a permanent discontinuation of LIBOR and other interbank offered rates (IBORs). Market feedback has now been sought on nine key IBORs in total, including US dollar LIBOR.
As with the first consultation last year, the latest consultation asked market participants to opine on possible methodologies to adjust for structural differences between the IBORs and the risk-free rates that will replace them if a fallback is triggered. Following a request for proposal earlier this year, ISDA has now chosen an independent service provider to calculate and publish the adjustments. Ultimately, the ISDA definitions are expected to be amended before the end of the year to implement fallbacks for the nine IBORs that have beeen subject to consultation so far. An ISDA protocol will also be developed to enable firms to adapt legacy derivatives contracts.
Going forward, a consultation on adjustments to the fallback for euro LIBOR and EURIBOR will be held after the alternative risk-free rate for euro (€STR) is published in October. There also remains an enormous amount of work to shift the market away from its use of LIBOR and other IBORs and to develop trading activity and liquidity in the alternative risk-free rates before the end of 2021. Given that the adjusted fallback will not match the relevant IBOR exactly, voluntary adoption of risk-free rates before any permanent cessation of an IBOR will be the preferable route for many. Nonetheless, the progress made on fallbacks is critical. This is a big step toward ensuring that derivatives markets are safer and more efficient by ensuring that a robust backup is in place if an IBOR permanently ceases to exist.
Related Links
Keywords: International, Banking, Securities, IBORs, LIBOR, EURIBOR, Interest Rate Benchmarks, Risk-Free Rates, €STR, Fallback, ISDA
Related Articles
BIS Report Notes Existing Gaps in Climate Risk Data at Central Banks
A Consultative Group on Risk Management (CGRM) at the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) published a report that examines incorporation of climate risks into the international reserve management framework.
EBA Publishes Multiple Regulatory Updates for Regulated Entities
The European Banking Authority (EBA) published the final guidelines on liquidity requirements exemption for investment firms, updated version of its 5.2 filing rules document for supervisory reporting, and Single Rulebook Question and Answer (Q&A) updates in July 2022.
APRA Consults on Prudential Standard for Operational Risk
The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) is seeking comments, until October 21, 2022, on the introduction of CPS 230, which is the new cross-industry prudential standard on operational risk management.
EC Amends Rule on Securitizations; ESRB Updates Reciprocation Measures
The European Commission published a Delegated Regulation 2022/1301 on the information to be provided in accordance with the simple, transparent, and standardized (STS) notification requirements for on-balance-sheet synthetic securitizations.
APRA Announces Revisions to Capital Framework for Banks
The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) is announced revisions to the capital framework for authorized deposit-taking institutions to implement the "unquestionably strong" capital ratios and the Basel III reforms.
EBA Examines Remuneration Data and Use of Large Exposure Exemptions
The European Banking Authority (EBA) published a report that examines the use of certain exemptions included in the large exposures regime under the Capital Requirements Regulation (CRR).
UK Authorities Publish Discussion Paper on Critical Third Parties
The Bank of England (BoE), the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA), and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) published a joint discussion paper that sets out potential measures to oversee and strengthen the resilience of services provided by critical third parties to the financial sector in UK.
BoE Issues Update on Ongoing Data Transformation Program
The Bank of England (BoE) issued a communication to firms to provide an update on the progress of the joint data transformation program—which is being led by BoE, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), and the industry—for the financial sector in UK.
EBA Issues Draft Methodology and Templates for 2023 Stress Tests
The European Banking Authority (EBA) published the draft methodology, templates, and template guidance for the European Union-wide stress test in 2023.
EBA Issues SREP Guidelines and Standards for Investment Firms
The European Banking Authority (EBA) and the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) jointly published the final guidelines on common procedures and methodologies for the supervisory review and evaluation process (SREP) for investment firms.
