Basel III and its Implications on Emerging Markets

Arafat Al FayoumiFebruary 20,2011

Ⅰ ． Basel Ⅲ 　 - 　 Overview 　 -

Ⅱ ． Basel Ⅲ and Financial 　Systems

Ⅲ ． Basel Ⅲ and Monetary Policy

Ⅰ ． Basel Ⅲ 　–　 Overview Capital requirement, leverage ratio, liquidity standards

Overview The oversight body of the Basel Committee, the Group of

Governors and Heads of Supervision, at its meeting in September, 12 2010, announced a substantial strengthening of existing capital requirements, in line with the agreements reached on the 26 July 2010 regarding its agenda of global financial reform.

Conti…… A new regime of rules and regulations has been

developed by regulators in order to strengthen the resilience of the banking sector against future

shocks, as well as to supplement the current recovery process. The rules mean that the banks will now need to hold a prodigious amount of capital, far more than the

current requirement.

Capital Requirement

　 　 Capital Conservation Buffer & Counter-cyclical Buffer

　 Introduction of Leverage Ratio

Introduction of Liquidity Standards

　 ・　 Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR)

　 ・　 Net Stable Funding Ratio (NSFR)

Ｉ - １ . 　 Basel Ⅲ

Capital Requirement The requirement of minimum common equity (MCE) has

been increased from 2% to 4.5% of risk-weighted assets (RWA).

Member countries are to begin implementation on January, 1st, 2013 and hence, must integrate the rules with national laws and regulations before this date. As of January, 1st, 2013, banks will be required to have 3.5% MCE of RWA, 4% as of January, 1st, 2014 and 4.5% as of January, 1st, 2015.

Capital Requirement …cont. An additional conservation buffer of 2.5% has also been

introduced, effectively bringing the common equity requirement to7%.

This reinforces the changes in the definition of 'Capital' made in July 2010, along with the higher capital requirements for trading, derivative and securitization activities to be introduced at the end of 2011.

The phase in starts from January, 1st, 2016 and stretches up till January, 1st, 2019. Beginning with 0.625% of RWA on January, 1st, 2016, it will notch up each year by 0.625% reaching the final level of 2.5% of RWA on January, 1st, 2019.

Capital Requirement …cont. If regulators see free flowing credit, a countercyclical buffer

can also be imposed within a range of 0% to 2.5% of common equity or other fully loss absorbing capital to prevent excessive growth of credit within the banking sector.

Capital Requirement …cont. The Tier I requirement will be increased from 4% to 6%. The

phase-in arrangement is similar to that of common equity i.e. Between January, 1st, 2013 and January, 1st, 2015. On January 1st, 2013 Tier I will increase from the current level of 4% to 4.5%, and to 5.5% on January, 1st, 2014.Finally, on January, 1st, 2015 it will increase to 6% as stipulated.

The total capital requirement remains unchanged at 8%, and hence does not need to be phased in. The difference between the total capital requirement of 8.0% and the Tier I requirement can be met with Tier II and higher forms of capital.

Capital Requirement …cont. The capital requirements mentioned above are also

supplemented by a non-risk based leverage ratio. In July, it was agreed to test a minimum Tier I ratio of 3%. Under the new rules, the same will be tested during the parallel run period between 2013 and 2016 and on the basis of the results, final adjustments will be made in the first half of 2017, with the aim of migrating to Pillar I treatment by January, 1st, 2018.

Ⅰ- ２ . 　 Calibration of the Capital Framework

Common Equity (after

deductions)

TierⅠCapital

Total Capital

Minimum ４．５ ６．０ ８．０

Conservation Buffer ２．５

Minimum plus consevation buffer

７．０ ８．５ １０．５

Countercyclical bufferrange*

０－２．５

（％）

*Common equity or other fully loss absorbing capital

Ⅰ-３ . Basel and Basel Ⅱ Ⅲ

Ｔｉｅｒ　Ｉ TierⅡCET I （ 2%-)

Basel Ⅱ

４％ -８％ -

Basel Ⅲ

CETⅠ ：７％ -Minimum CETI （ 4.5 ）＋ Buffer （ 2.5 ）

＋ Counter 　 Cyclical 　Buffer

Tier 　 I ： 8.5 ％ -Minimum （ 6 ）＋ Buffer （ 2.5 ）

Tier 　 I ＋ Tier 　Ⅱ： 10.5 ％-

Minimum （ 8 ）＋ Buffer （ 2.5 ）

Ｔｉｅｒ　Ｉ TierⅡCET I(4.5%-)

Capital Cons. Buffer(2.5%-)

＋ Counter 　 Cyclical 　Buffer

＋ Counter 　 Cyclical 　 Buffer

Ⅰ- ４． Phase-in arrangement (all dates are as of January, 1st,

percent)

Phase-in arrangements (shading indicates transition periods)(all dates are as of January ,1st )

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 As of 1 Jan. 2019

Leverage Ratio Supervisory monitoringParallel run

1 Jan 2013 – 1 Jan 2017Disclosure starts 1 Jan 2015

Migration to Pillar 1

Minimum Common Equity Capital 3.5 4.0 4.5 4.5 4.5 4.5 4.5

Capital Conservation Buffer 0.625 1.25 1.875 2.50

Minimum common equity plus capital conservation buffer 3.5 4.0 4.5 5.125 5.75 6.375 7.0

Phase-in of deductions from CET1 (including amounts exceeding the limit for DTAs, MSRs and financials ) 20 40 60 80 100 100

Minimum Tier 1 Capital 4.5 5.5 6.0 6.0 6.0 6.0 6.0

Minimum Total Capital 8.0 8.0 8.0 8.0 8.0 8.0 8.0

Minimum Total Capital plus conservation buffer 8.0 8.0 8.0 8.625 9.25 9.875 10.5

Capital instruments that no longer qualify as non-core Tier 1 capital or Tier 2 capital Phased out over 10 year horizon beginning 2013

Liquidity coverage ratioObservation period

begins

Introduce minimum standard

Net stable funding ratioObservatio

n period begins

Introduce minimum standard

Ｉ -5. Liquidity Standards The Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) is also set to be introduced

on January 1st, 2015, after an observation period beginning in 2011.

The revised Net Funding Stability Ratio (NFSR) will move to a minimum standard by January 1st, , 2018. The Committee intends to put in place various means and processes of review, in order to fully comprehend the implications of these financial standards.

Bitter experiences of the global financial crisis

　 ・　 Most of Financial crises have been triggered by liquidity problems.

　 ・　 Even immediately before its collapse, Lehman’s capital adequacy ratio was a double-digit figure. (Capital adequacy ratio may not be very effective for preventing liquidity-driven financial crises.)

In stressed circumstances, market liquidity could dry up suddenly.

Excessive reliance on CB’s liquidity provision may lead to moral hazard.

Ｉ -6. 　 Why Liquidity Standards?

If a liquidity problem leads to a “fire-sale”, FI ｓ　 may become insolvent due to a substantial decline in the prices of various financial assets.

　 ・　 It is difficult for central banks to rescue “insolvent” FIs through LLR.

In order to prevent financial crises, it is extremely important to avoid large-scale fire-sales.

　 ・　 Although each town has its firefighters’ station, each office should have a fire extinguisher so as to prevent a fire. (If a fire spreads all over California mountains, it is difficult even for firefighters to extinguish the fire.)

A fire sale triggered by a liquidity problem is the most typical case of “negative externality”.

Key ObservationsLiquidity concerns: In the face of criticism that the proposed liquidity ratios (NSFR

and LCR) could jeopardize the economy with capital being trapped in liquidity buffers, the committee has watered down the proposal and is phasing in the requirements only by 2015.

Key Observations cont…

Focus on Common Equity: Post financial crisis, some banks were observed to be taking

advantage of profits from low cost government bailouts. If this continues, it could mark the beginning of another crisis. In order to avert it, Basel III focuses on raising capital through common equity.

Key Observations cont…

Hybrid Capital: Hybrid capital will be phased out of Tier I capital in 3 years

time, with the intention of maintaining only the highest quality capital in Tier I. Hybrid Capital had until now been a favored route for raising capital with about $1 trillion being issued since 1999.

Key Observations cont…Role of External Ratings: While the Frank-Dodd Act in the United States has tried to

bring in accountability to the rating agencies by making them liable for the ratings issued; it has also mandated that sole reliance on external ratings would not be allowed. The new Basel III regulations remain silent on these issues.

Key Observations cont…

Leverage Ratio:The risk weight prescribed by the Committee earlier was much maligned as one of the reasons for the financial crisis, allowing banks extremely high leverage. The committee has not junked the methodology but has introduced a simple leverage ratio of Common Equity to Total Assets which has been set at 3%. This is still too low and allows banks to lend 33 times its capital.

Key Observations cont…

Valuation of assets:While the common equity requirement has been defined in terms of the risk weighted assets, a significant contributing factor to the problem has been the valuation of assets and the corresponding risk weights applied. No changes have been made to the valuation of the denominator i.e. the risk weighted assets.

Dominance of the banking sector in financial intermediation

　 ・　 Even large banks focus on “core” banking businesses (e.g., deposit- taking from households, loans to SMEs). The size of structured product markets is small.

　 ・　 These are the basic reasons why Emerging financial systems were not seriously involved in the recent “North-Atlantic” financial crisis.

・　 It is important to maintain banks’ function as financial intermediaries 　　　 while preventing their excessive risk-taking.

Some emerging economies are experiencing large-scale capital flows as well as signs of overheating.

Ⅱ- １ . 　 An Emerging Markets Perspective

Ⅱ-2. IMF WEO (Oct. 2010)

Source: International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook, October 2010.

Contribution to World GDP Growth (%)

　 2009 2010 2011

World GDP growth (yoy) -0.6 4.8 4.2

United States -0.5 0.5 0.5

Euro area -0.6 0.2 0.2

Japan -0.3 0.2 0.1

Emerging Asia 1.5 2.4 2.2

Other countries -0.6 1.4 1.3

How will Basel Ⅲ capital requirement affect bank loans, financial intermediation and the economy?

- “Zero-bound” of nominal interest rates and fiscal consolidation in many of advanced economies

- Capital flows to emerging economies

How will Basel Ⅲ capital requirement affect banks’ risk-taking activities and bank stock prices?

- Will banks try to embark on more risky activities so as to maintain ROE? Will shareholders accept lower ROEs?

- How will bank stock prices react to Basel Ⅲ?

Ⅱ-3. 　 Basel Ⅲ Capital Requirement - Some basic questions

How will Basel Ⅲ capital requirement influence bank’s capital-raising?

- Will stock markets have capacity enough to absorb banks’ capital- raising pressures?

- Will good banks try to raise capital as soon as possible so as to avoid the “crowding-out” of capital markets at a later stage? (Will weak banks face difficulty in capital-raising later?

- How will the flattening of the yield curve in advance economies affect banks’ profitability and the magnitude of their capital-raising.

How will Basel Ⅲ capital requirement influence “shadow-banking”? - The risk of regulatory arbitrage

Ⅱ-4. “The Basel Committee’s response to the financial crisis: report to the G20” (Oct. 2010) - on “Macroeconomic impact assessment”

“The group (=the Macroeconomic Assessment Group) estimated that, if higher requirements are phased in over four years, the level of GDP would decline by about 0.19% for each 1 percentage point increase in a bank’s capital ratio once the new rules were in place.3

3 In a few instances, MAG members reported impact figures in excess of 0.5%; the three most negative values represent the outcome of models estimated by the Bank of Japan and the Federal Reserve.”

How will minimum liquidity standards influence banking sector in each jurisdiction?　 ・　 More liquid assets may bear less yield, and more stable funding may require higher funding costs. (Trade-off between liquidity and profitability)

How will liquidity standards affect the structure of financial intermediation?　 ・　 If the economy needs maturity transformation services, minimum liquidity standards specifically on banks might transfer liquidity risks from banking sector to non-banking sector.

　 How should liquidity standards deal with the difference in financial structure among jurisdictions? 　 ・　 e.g., the share of government securities in financial assets substantially differ among jurisdictions, reflecting the level of budget deficit.

All of these questions are similar to those raised to capital standards…

Ⅱ-5. 　 Basel Ⅲ Liquidity Standards - Some basic questions

Ⅲ ． Basel and Monetary PolicyⅢｰ　 Focusing on liquidity standards

　 How will liquidity standards affect the prices 　　 of financial assets and yield curve?　 ・　 Banks’ demand for the assets defined as “liquid” may increase, while their demand for the asset defined as “illiquid” may decrease.

　　・　 Banks’ longer-term funding might cause steepening pressure on yield curve.

　 How will liquidity standards affect the quality of central bank collateral?

Ⅲ-1. 　 Basel Ⅲ and Monetary Policy　　　　　　－ Some basic questions

Ⅲ-2. Possible Impact on Yield Curve

If liquidity standards increase banks’ needs for longer-term financing, they might steepen yield curve.

- If liquidity standards simply corrects market participants’ distorted incentives (i.e. free-ride on central banks’ liquidity provision), the original yield curve could be regarded as too flat.

- It is not easy to judge whether liquidity standards would “correct” or “distort” yield curve.

Regulatory Threshold

?

Free ride

(Interpretation I) (Interpretation II)

Financial Institutions

Financial Institutions

Financial Institutions

Financial Institutions

Ⅲ-3. Possible Impact on Central Bank Collateral

Liquidity standards might encourage financial institutions to keep the most liquid asset within themselves, while offering less liquid assets to central banks as eligible collateral.

Nonetheless, the above is regarded as an inherent incentives in central banks’ collateral policy, and not directly related to liquidity standards.

- In principle, central banks are able to maintain the quality of collateral by keeping the standard of eligible collateral at an appropriate level and/or imposing haircuts to some assets.

Central Bank

(Standard for eligible collateral)

Financial assets more liquid

Less liquid

Ⅲ-4. Demand for Central Bank Reserves

Liquidity standards might influence financial institutions’ demand for central bank reserves.

In principle, however, central banks will still be able to control money market rates by increasing the supply of liquidity.

①

②

policy rate

Ⅲ-5. Liquidity Standards and Financial Structure

The share of sovereign debt in financial market differs among countries, reflecting the level of budget deficit.

Nonetheless, the economy should need liquid assets.

- Too rigid definition of Liquid assets could be harmful.

More liquid

Less Liquid

(Country A) (Country B)

GovernmentBonds

Private debt

high rating

low rating

Government Bonds

private debt

“Do we need fiscal deficit to satisfy liquidity standards?” (This question is similar to the question of whether “central bank needs fiscal deficit to execute its market operation or not.”)

One of the most difficult parts of liquidity 　 standards is the definition of “liquid” assets.　 ・　 Market liquidity of financial markets may change, reflecting market conditions as well as the development in infrastructure.

Too rigid definition of “liquid” assets can be 　　 harmful, especially for the countries with 　　 developing financial markets.　 ・　 Financial assets in these countries will become more liquid in future.

It is important to maintain sufficient flexibility in 　 liquidity standards and to develop securities markets in Asia.

Thank you!

Ⅲ-6. Liquidity Standards from an Asian Perspective