Question ID
2016_2797
Legal act
Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 (CRR)
Topic
Market risk
Article
352
Paragraph
1(a), 3
COM Delegated or Implementing Acts/RTS/ITS/GLs/Recommendations
Not applicable
Article/Paragraph
n/a
Name of institution / submitter
BearingPoint
Country of incorporation / residence
Germany
Type of submitter
Consultancy firm
Subject matter
Treatment of negative accrued interests in the foreign exchange risk
Question

Do negative accrued interests reduce the fx position, where as positive accrued interests increase the fx position?

Background on the question

Because of the actual interest level, the institutions have to consider negative accrued interests in the foreign exchange risk.

Submission date
Final publishing date
Final answer

Article 352(1)(a) Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 (CRR) states that accrued interests shall be included in the calculation of the net spot position.

From the perspective of the receiver of the interests, negative interest rates reduce assets since it reduces the amount to be paid to him. Article 327 CRR states: "The absolute value of the excess of an institution's  long (short) positions over its short (long) positions in the same equity, debt and convertible issues and identical financial futures, options, warrants and covered warrants shall be its net position in each of those instruments". Therefore, if the overall position is long (the institution expects to receive more than to pay), it indeed reduces the position. If the overall position is short on the contrary, it increases the position.

If the institution uses the net present value, as permitted under the requirements of Article 352(3) CRR, the effect of the negative interest rate is already included in the value.

More generally, since there is no specific statement concerning negative interest rates in the CRR Part III, Title 4, those are to follow the exact same treatment as positive ones, and therefore have the exact opposite effects.

Status
Final Q&A
Answer prepared by
Answer prepared by the EBA.
Note to Q&A

Update 26.03.2021: This Q&A has been reviewed in the light of the changes introduced to Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 (CRR) and continues to be relevant.

Disclaimer

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