Leverage ratios
Using assets as collateral increases volatility of returns, Buba paper finds
Bundesbank discussion paper uses model comprising agents differing in their level of risk aversion; negative economic shocks substantially alter wealth distribution between the two
Bundesbank's Lautenschläger raises leverage ratio concerns
Introducing the leverage ratio as the primary regulatory requirement would mean taking two steps back to the risk-insensitivity of Basel I and even beyond, Bundesbank deputy president argues
Buba paper: Banks with volatile loan demand load up on wholesale funds
Bundesbank discussion paper argues ‘loan uncertainty' not only result but determinant of wholesale funding, implying regulatory cap on wholesale funding increases exposure to ‘asset-side shocks'
Fed's Stein seeks right regulatory mix on fire-sales for SFTs
Fed governor Jeremy Stein calls for new mix of rules to ensure ‘fire sale’ of securities financing transactions work at the system-wide level
FDIC chair discusses US effort to balance capital and leverage requirements
Martin Gruenberg says Basel III relies too heavily on capital ratios, potentially incentivising big banks to employ ‘imprudent' leverage strategies; discusses regulatory remedies
Financial contagion function of reputation rather than size of banks
Bank clustering and large in-coming interbank loan more important than leverage ratios, while central bank intervention reduce contagion only slightly, Bank of Finland discussion paper finds
Slovenian stability review scolds ‘inactive and irresponsible' bank owners
Slovenian banks are squeezed by increasingly expensive wholesale funding and heavy exposure to an anaemic corporate sector, stoking fears of 'systemic risk' at the central bank
Fed’s Tarullo hints at global interest in 6% leverage ratio
Daniel Tarullo says the US leverage ratio must be increased to ensure it effectively supports risk-based capital measures; proposal has generated interest from regulators abroad
Fed and FDIC agree 6% leverage ratio for US Sifis
Banking agencies announce rules to increase organisations' leverage ratios; measures remain controversial with the banking lobby and regulators, notably FDIC's Hoenig
UK government set to make electric ring fence ‘virtually useless'
Banking standards commission chairman Andrew Tyrie laments the government's departure from his commission's recommendations on leverage, Bank of England reform and the electrified ring fence
Basel leverage ratio would double up collateralised OTC positions
Ratio could be a 'game-changer', dealers warn, as Basel Committee proposes counting received collateral as well as derivatives exposures
Basel Committee reveals leverage ratio formula
Proposals detail leverage ratio calculation framework and disclosure requirements that will enter force in 2015; committee keeps options open for a higher leverage ratio than originally planned
RBNZ’s prudential supervision head backs simpler regulation
Toby Fiennes expresses ‘sympathy’ for arguments in favour of simpler banking regulation, but cautions that simplicity can bring problems of its own; gives hints as to future of regulation
Fed’s Raskin warns of shortcomings in leverage ratio
Sarah Bloom Raskin says a leverage ratio can guard against the failings of risk-weighted capital requirements, but cautions that the ratio has issues of its own
Bank of Israel’s outgoing chief, Stanley Fischer, on the challenges of central banking
Stanley Fischer believes his work as governor of the Bank of Israel is done. He tells Chris Jeffery about the reform process in Israel as well as the challenges facing the world economy and the IMF
Arbitrage threat kept 'fallible' leverage ratio to 4%, says Vickers
Vickers says his 'blue skies thinking' leverage ratio would have been 10%, and adds stress testing avoids banks gaming the system
FDIC vice-chair says Basel III capital requirements provide illusion of safety
Thomas Hoenig says capital ratios allow banks to leverage up while outwardly appearing safe; warns systemically important banks have much worse leverage ratios than smaller institutions
US agencies clamp down on leveraged lending
Fed, FDIC and OCC issue updated standards for leveraged lenders amid concerns standards are again slipping and many institutions have ‘proven less than satisfactory’ in risk management practices
Central bankers split over whether 3% leverage ratio is enough
Majority of participants in CentralBanking.com poll support implementation of Basel III; readers divided over questions of raising leverage ratio
BoE research warns of coming financing problems for private equity firms
Quarterly bulletin article highlights problems on the horizon for private equity firms that over-leveraged before the financial crisis, as their debt comes to maturity under much tighter conditions
UK gears up to new era of prudential regulation
The UK will adopt ‘twin peaks’ supervision in April in a bid to restore integrity to its financial system. Chris Jeffery talks to the Bank of England’s Sarah Breeden about the challenges ahead