Credit Risk Management

The importance of managing credit and credit risks carefully and appropriately cannot be overestimated. The very success or failure of a bank and the banking industry in general may well depend on how credit risk is handled.

Banking professionals must be fully versed in the risks associated with credit operations and how to manage those risks. This up-to-date volume is an invaluable reference and study tool that delves deep into issues associated with credit risk management.

Credit Risk Management from the Hong Kong Institute of Bankers (HKIB)discusses the various ways through which banks manage risks. Essential for candidates studying for the HKIB Associateship Examination, it can also help those who want to acquire a deeper understanding of how and why banks make decisions and set up processes that lower their risk.

Topics covered in this book include:

• Active credit portfolio management
• Risk management, pricing, and capital adequacy
• Capital requirements for banks
• Approaches to credit risk management
• Structural models and probability of default
• Techniques to determine loss given default
• Derivatives and structured products

Preface xi

Part 1 The Credit Risk Framework 1

1 Definitions and Concepts 3

Learning Objectives 3

Introduction 4

What is Credit? 4

Evolution of Credit Markets 7

What is Credit Risk? 10

Building Blocks of Portfolio Risk 14

Default 18

Portfolio Performance Metrics 19

Data and Data Systems 21

Risk Control Framework and Governance 22

Summary 22

Key Terms 24

Study Guide 25

Further Reading 25

2 Active Credit Portfolio Management 27

Learning Objectives 27

Introduction 28

What is ACPM? 28

Mark-to-market Approach 30

Metrics for ACPM 35

Data and Models 37

Summary 40

Key Terms 41

Study Guide 41

Further Reading 41

3 Capital Adequacy Framework 43

Learning Objectives 43

Introduction 44

Capital Adequacy Under Basel I 44

Basel II’s Three Pillar Approach 49

Basel III (2010) 53

Capital Adequacy in Hong Kong 54

Implementation Issues 55

Summary 56

Key Terms 57

Study Guide 57

Further Reading 58

Part 2 Capital Requirements on Credit Risk Under Basel 59

4 Standardised Approach to Credit Risk 61

Learning Objectives 61

Introduction 62

Standardised Approach to Credit Risk 62

Individual Claims 63

Credit Risk Mitigation 74

Securitization Exposures 84

Summary 86

Key Terms 87

Study Guide 88

Further Reading 88

5 Internal Ratings-Based Approach 89

Learning Objectives 89

Introduction 90

What is the IRB Approach? 90

Building Blocks of the IRB Approaches 92

IRB and Selected Exposures 93

Internal Rating System 106

Validation of IRB Models 114

Summary 119

Key Terms 120

Study Guide 121

Further Reading 121

Part 3 Credit Risk and Portfolio Models 123

6 Structural Models 125

Learning Objectives 125

Introduction 126

Basic Structural Model 126

Black-Scholes-Merton 129

Valuation 133

Black-Cox 135

Vasicek-Kealhofer 140

Stochastic Interest Rates 144

Endogenous Default Barrier 145

Corporate Transaction Analysis 146

Liquidity 147

Other Structural Approaches 148

Summary 155

Key Terms 157

Study Guide 157

Further Reading 158

7 Econometric Models 159

Learning Objectives 159

Introduction 160

Discrete-choice Models 160

Hazard Rate (Duration) Models 168

Practical Applications 172

Calibrating Econometric Models 177

Calibrating to Ratings 187

Interpreting the Relative Influence of Factors in Econometric Models 192

Data Issues 194

Summary 199

Key Terms 200

Study Guide 200

Further Reading 201

8 Loss Given Default 203

Learning Objectives 203

Introduction 204

Timeline of Default Resolution 204

Measures of LGD 206

Multifactor Approach to LGD 212

Regression Framework 217

Summary 219

Key Terms 220

Study Guide 221

Further Reading 221

9 Reduced-form Models 223

Learning Objectives 223

Introduction 224

Reduced-form Models in Context 225

Basic Intensity Models 228

DSL Framework 237

Credit Rating Transition Models 241

Default Probability Density Version of Intensity Models 247

Generic Credit Curves 253

Summary 255

Key Terms 256

Study Guide 257

Further Reading 257

10 PD Model Validation 259

Learning Objectives 259

Introduction 260

Parameter Robustness 260

Measures of Model Power 263

Measures of PD Levels and Calibration 267

Sample Size and Confidence Bounds 280

Assessing the Economic Value of More Powerful PD Models 296

Designing Validation Tests 305

Summary 310

Key Terms 311

Study Guide 312

Further Reading 313

11 Portfolio Models 315

Learning Objectives 315

Introduction 316

Measuring Portfolio Diversification 316

Portfolio Risk Assuming No Credit Migration 317

Structural Models of Default Correlation 319

Credit Migration 323

Model of Value Correlation 325

Probability of Large Losses 329

Valuation 332

Return Calculations 334

Risk Calculations 337

Portfolio Loss Distribution 343

Capital 355

Economic Capital and Portfolio Management 358

Improving Portfolio Performance 361

Performance Metrics 364

Reduced-form Models and Portfolio Modelling 368

Correlation in Intensity Models 369

Copulas 371

Integrating Market and Credit Risk 373

Counterparty Risk in CDS and Credit Portfolios 374

Stress-testing 376

Summary 379

Key Terms 380

Study Guide 381

Further Reading 381

Part 4 Credit Derivatives and Structured Credit Products 383

12 Credit Derivatives 385

Learning Objectives 385

Introduction 386

What are Credit Derivatives? 386

Credit Default Swap 389

Total Return Swaps 393

Credit-linked Notes 398

Credit Spread Derivatives 399

Pricing Credit Derivatives 401

Summary 412

Key Terms 413

Study Guide 413

Further Reading 414

13 Structured Credit Products 415

Learning Objectives 415

Introduction 416

Securitisation 416

Asset Backed Security 423

Collateralised Debt Obligation 424

Capital Charge Requirements 427

Derivatives and Structured Credit as Risk Management Tools 428

Summary 430

Key Terms 431

Study Guide 431

Further Reading 431

Index 433

Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (Asia) Limited (ICBC (Asia)) is delighted to sponsor this resource book. ICBC (Asia), the flagship of the Hong Kong banking business of Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Limited (ICBC), currently the world's largest commercial bank by market capitalization, offers a wide range of financial services to corporate and individual customers. The Bank is renowned for its provision of cross-border financial services and RMB-related services.