Thesis (M.Com. (Economics & Economic History)) - Rhodes University, 2009. / A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Commerce (Financial Markets)

The aim of this thesis is to evaluate the impact of Basel III on Czech banks and to compare the effectiveness of capital ratios in predicting bank distress. After a short introduction, in the second chapter we estimate the impact of tightened Basel III capital regulation on lending spreads in the Czech banking sector. In this chapter we conclude that the tightened capital regulation will not lead to more expensive borrowing in the Czech Republic mainly because the banking sector has been well-capitalized. In the third chapter we identify the strategies that Czech banks adopted in order to significantly increase their capital ratios between 2009 and 2013. Our analysis shows that retained earnings have played a major role in increasing the average capital adequacy of Czech banks. In addition, the Czech banks have decreased their average asset risk to further strengthen the overall capital adequacy ratio. In the last chapter, using a dataset on bank distress in European banks during 2008-2012, we compare the performance of risk-weighted capital ratios and simple leverage capital ratios to predict bank distress. Our results suggest that simple leverage ratios can perform better than complex risk-weighted capital ratios when predicting bank distress. While such a finding is not conclusive, it suggests that more complex risk modeling does not always mean better risk modeling.

The purpose of this study is to examine the wealth effect of the Risk-Based Capital (RBC) regulation on the U.S. commercial banking industry. The RBC plan was first proposed in January 1986, and its final form was announced on July 11, 1988. This plan resulted from dissatisfaction with the old capital regulation, which did not account for asset risk and off-balance sheet activities. The present study hypothesizes that the new regulation restricted bank optimal behavior and, therefore, adversely affected stock prices. The second and third hypotheses suggest that investors used company specific information, Net Tier 1 and Total risk-based capital ratios respectively, in valuing stocks of the affected bank holding companies. Hypotheses four and five suggest that abnormal returns are proportionally related to the levels of Net Tier 1 or Total RBC ratio. Both the traditional event study and the portfolio time-series regression, with RBC ratios (Net Tier 1 or Total) as the weight factors, are used in this study.

No description available.

Thesis (M.M. (Finance & Investment)--University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, Wits Business School, 2016 / The study is an assessment of the current treatment of business risk, as a significant risk type for financial institutions. It includes an industry analysis of the five major banks in South Africa, as well as international banks, and how these banks currently manage business risk in the Pillar 2 supervisory process. It assesses economic capital frameworks and the importance of business risk in the risk assessment and measurement process in the global and local industry. Various methodologies have been researched to assess which statistical methods are best suited in the measurement of this risk type as well as the quantification of the capital levels required. This study has compared the available statistical methodologies currently used in the industry and concludes which is best given the issues pertaining to the modelling of business risk quantification. A statistical model has been developed to quantify business risk for a specific bank using bank specific data, using a methodology which is relatively generic and could be applied widely across all financial institutions. The model serves to illustrate the principles surrounding the quantification of business risk economic capital. / GR2018

Background: Stress tests have been increasingly used as a part of the supervisory tool by national regulators after the financial crisis, which can also be used to conduct authorities’ supervisory for determining bank capital levels, assessing the health of a bank. Purpose: The main purpose of this study is to assess whether some micro factors play important roles on the changes of Common Equity Tier One Capital Ratio (between the bank accounting value and the stress testing results under the adverse scenarios).  Our secondary purpose is to investigate if our empirical results will help to provide some theoretical suggestions to regulators when they exercise stress tests.   Method: An empirical analysis by using Panel Data, introducing GARCH model to measure volatility.   Empirical foundation: The results of EU-wide stress tests and bank financial statements   Conclusion: The coefficient associated with non-performing loans to total loans is positively significant and the coefficient associated with bank size is negatively significant.  In addition, the financial system of strong banks is better to absorb financial shocks. These findings are useful, as banks is a reflection of the financial stability of an economic entity, we can use these findings as another reason to pay attention to the process of the stress testing rather just stress testing results.

This research examines the impact of certain bank-specific variables on bank stability in Ghana, in the context of the existing regulatory structures. The thesis examines this issue along two main themes. The first part of this study examines whether two of the commonly used measures of banking stability, the CAMELS and the Z-Score, provide similar or different results in assessing the stability of banks in Ghana. The results of this study show that the use of the CAMELS and the Z-score measures could lead to different outcomes in terms of bank stability in Ghana. This suggests that the traditional micro-prudential CAMELS framework should be complemented with the Z-score which inherently has both micro and macro-prudential characteristics of signaling weaknesses in bank stability, and to enhance the management of bank stability. The second part of the study examines the impact of some bank-specific variables on bank stability. Using the panel data approach, the results show that while bank size, regulatory governance, regulatory independence and origin impact significantly on the stability score, there was no significant impact in terms of interbank borrowing and non-performing loans. Further analysis using the Blinder –Oaxaca decomposition also suggests that foreign banks in Ghana exhibit relatively higher levels of stability compared to local banks. The policy implications of these findings suggest that the liberalisation of the banking sector should be accompanied by an effective micro- and macro-prudential supervisory regime in order to manage the stability of the constituent banks and the banking sector as a whole.

Cette thèse examine l'impact des institutions formelles et informelles sur les ratios de fonds propres et les prêts des banques. Elle est composée de trois essais empiriques. Le premier chapitre explore l'effet de la qualité juridique et institutionnelle formelle sur les ratios de fonds propres pondérés par rapport aux ratios de fonds propres non pondérés des banques dans la région du Moyen-Orient et de l'Afrique du Nord. Les résultats montrent que lorsque les marchés boursiers sont moins développés, les variables institutionnelles affectent de manière significative les ratios de fonds propres réglementaires pondérés par le risque, mais pas les ratios de levier. À l'inverse, lorsque les marchés boursiers sont plus développés, seuls les ratios de levier sont influencés par des facteurs institutionnels. Le deuxième chapitre parcourt la relation entre les ratios de fonds propres des banques, le cadre juridique et institutionnel et les prêts bancaires en utilisant un échantillon mondial de banques commerciales. Les résultats confirment que le développement institutionnel est un moteur important du crédit bancaire, tandis que l’effet des ratios de capital sur le crédit bancaire reste d’une importance mineure. Le troisième chapitre porte sur le rôle de la confiance dans le développement du crédit bancaire dans le monde. Les résultats confirment que la confiance Inter-groupe, la confiance envers les personnes que nous ne connaissons pas, renforce de manière significative les prêts bancaires dans les pays dans lesquels le développement institutionnel et judiciaire est relativement moins développé. En ce qui concerne la confiance intra-groupe, la confiance envers les personnes que nous connaissons, les résultats empiriques montrent qu’elle affecte indirectement le crédit bancaire en favorisant le développement du crédit informel. / This dissertation examines the impact of formal and informal institutions on bank capital ratios and lending. It comprises three empirical essays. The first chapter explores the effect of the legal and institutional quality on bank risk-weighted capital ratios versus non risk-weighted capital ratios in the Middle East and North Africa region. The findings show that when stock markets are less developed, institutional variables significantly affect risk-weighted regulatory capital ratios but not leverage ratios. Conversely, when stock markets are more developed, only leverage ratios are influenced by institutional factors. The second chapter explores the relationship between bank capital ratios, the legal and institutional framework, and bank lending using a global sample of commercial banks. The results confirm that institutional development is a significant driver of bank lending while the effect of capital ratios on bank lending remains of minor importance. The third chapter focuses on the role of trust in bank lending development around the world. It provides evidence that Out-group trust, the trust in individuals we do not know, significantly boosts bank lending in countries with relatively lower levels of institutional and judicial development. As for In-group trust, the trust in individuals we know, evidence shows that it affects bank lending indirectly by favoring the development of informal lending.

This research examines the impact of certain bank-specific variables on bank stability in Ghana, in the context of the existing regulatory structures. The thesis examines this issue along two main themes. The first part of this study examines whether two of the commonly used measures of banking stability, the CAMELS and the Z-Score, provide similar or different results in assessing the stability of banks in Ghana. The results of this study show that the use of the CAMELS and the Z-score measures could lead to different outcomes in terms of bank stability in Ghana. This suggests that the traditional micro-prudential CAMELS framework should be complemented with the Z-score which inherently has both micro and macro-prudential characteristics of signaling weaknesses in bank stability, and to enhance the management of bank stability. The second part of the study examines the impact of some bank-specific variables on bank stability. Using the panel data approach, the results show that while bank size, regulatory governance, regulatory independence and origin impact significantly on the stability score, there was no significant impact in terms of interbank borrowing and non-performing loans. Further analysis using the Blinder –Oaxaca decomposition also suggests that foreign banks in Ghana exhibit relatively higher levels of stability compared to local banks. The policy implications of these findings suggest that the liberalisation of the banking sector should be accompanied by an effective micro- and macro-prudential supervisory regime in order to manage the stability of the constituent banks and the banking sector as a whole.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The new Basel Capital Accord is intended to align capital adequacy of banks more closely with the key components of banking risk and to provide incentives for banks to improve their risk measurement and management capabilities. This has important implications for banks, particularly in the area of credit risk management. The purpose of this study is to take an in-depth look at the implications for banks in the area of credit risk management and the choice of approach (i.e. standardised versus internal ratings based approach) to be adopted. These changes in approach to credit risk will have broader economic implications and the study will in its final analysis explore these in the context of South Africa, as an emerging market. The study is split into three sections: Section A • Introduction and background to the New Basel Capital Accord; • Detailed overview on the New Basel Capital Accord with a particular emphasis on the internal ratings based approach to calculating minimum capital. Section B An in-depth discussion of credit risk management and the practical implications of moving towards an internal ratings based approach, which will eventually allow banks to take on a full portfolio approach to credit risk management. This will enable banks to manage credit risk across sub-portfolios and set economic capital based on the portfolio loss distribution of the banks entire lending book. This is an extremely important development in credit risk management and as a consequence is covered in some detail. The adoption of an internal ratings based approach offers significant rewards in the form of lower statutory capital. A profile of the current capitalisation of SA banks is provided followed by the likely effect of the standardised versus the internal ratings based approach to credit risk management, on the minimum level of statutory capital of banks. Section C The final section covers the envisaged macro effects of the New Accord on emerging markets (procyclical trends, lending concentrations, foreign capital flows and bank failures) with specific comment provided on the implications for the SA banking environment and economy. In conclusion, South African banks should as a priority move towards an internal ratings based approach to credit risk management in order to benefit from the lower statutory requirements, which accrue in the advanced phase. While the accord is likely to impact significantly on emerging markets, South Africa fortunately has a sophisticated banking system by international standards, making the adoption of an internal ratings based approach by the larger SA banks inevitable. The benefits for smaller banks are questionable and at this stage they are unlikely to move beyond the standardised approach, unless compelled to do so. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die "New Basel Capital Accord" het ten doel om die kapitaal vereistes neergelê vir banke meer in lyn te bring met die risiko komponent gekoppel bankwese. Dit hou 'n belangrike implikasie vir banke in en verskaf voorts ook 'n dryfveer vir banke om die bestuur van krediet risiko en algehele bestuursvaardighede te verbeter. In hierdie studie word 'n indiepte ondersoek onderneem aangaande die implikasie op banke van krediet risiko-bestuur en die keuse van die benadering wat gevolg word. Hierdie veranderings in die benadering (dws.standard teenoor interne-graderings benadering) tot krediet risiko hou breër ekonomiese implikasies vir banke in. Hierdie ekonomiese implikasies op SA as 'n ontwikkelende mark word in die finale analise ondersoek. Die studie kan in drie afdelings verdeel word: Afdeling A: • Inleiding en agtergrond tot die "New Basel Capital Accord" en • 'n Gedetaileerde oorsig van die "New Basel Capital Accord" met spesifieke verwysing na die interne-graderings benadering om die minimum vereiste kapitaal te bepaal. Afdeling B: Hierdie afdeling ondersoek krediet risiko bestuur en die praktiese implikasies van die aanvaarding/instelling van 'n interne graderings benadering, en die effek wat dit sal hê op 'n totale portefeulje benadering tot krediet risiko. Die gevolg is dat banke krediet risiko oor sub-portefeuljes sal kan bestuur en kapitaal vlakke vasstel gebaseer op verwagte portefeulje verliese. Hierdie is 'n belangrike ontwikkeling in krediet risiko bestuur en word vervolgens in diepte behandel. Die aanvaarding van 'n interne-graderings benadering tot gradering hou voordele in vir banke in die vorm van laer statutêre kapitaal vereistes. 'n Profiel van die kapitalisasie van SA banke word verskaf, gevolg deur die verskil in die effek van die standaard benadering tot die interne graderings benadering op krediet risiko bestuur en die vereiste minimum statutêre kapitaal. Afdeling C: Die finale afdeling ondersoek die beoogde makro ekonomiese effek van die "New basel capital Accord" op ontwikkelende marke (pro-sikliese neiging, lenings konsentrasies en bank mislukkings) met spesifieke verwysing na die implikasies op SA bankwese en ekonomie. Ter afsluiting moet SA banke so spoedig moontlik die interne-graderings benadering tot krediet risiko aanvaar om voordeel te trek uit die laer kapitaal vereistes wat "ophoop in die gevorderde stadium." Daar word verwag dat die "New Basel Capital Accord" 'n wesenlike invloed op die ontwikkelende mark sal hê. SA het egter 'n gesofistikeerde en gevestigde bankstelsel wat goed vergelyk met internasionale standaarde. Die aanvaarding van 'n interne-graderings benadering deur die die groter SA banke is onafwendbaar. Die voordele wat dit vir kleiner banke inhou kan bevraagteken word en is op hierdie stadium onwaarskynlik dat so 'n benadering deur hulle geïmplimenteer sal word.