Floating exchange rate arrangement has brought in its wake pronounced volatility adding a new dimension to the risk profile of banks' balance sheets. The increased capital flows across free economies following deregulation have contributed to increase in the volume of transactions. Large cross border flows together with the volatility has rendered the banks' balance sheets vulnerable to exchange rate movements.

Dealing in different currencies brings opportunities as also risks. If the liabilities in one currency exceed the level of assets in the same currency, then the currency mismatch can add value or erode value depending upon the currency movements. The simplest way to avoid currency risk is to ensure that mismatches, if any, are reduced to zero or near zero. Banks undertake operations in foreign exchange like accepting deposits, making loans and advances and quoting prices for foreign exchange transactions. Irrespective of the strategies adopted, it may not be possible to eliminate currency mismatches altogether. Besides, some of the institutions may take proprietary trading positions as a conscious business strategy.

Managing Currency Risk is one more dimension of Asset- Liability Management. Mismatched currency position besides exposing the balance sheet to movements in exchange rate also exposes it to country risk and settlement risk. Ever since the RBI (Exchange Control Department) introduced the concept of end of the day near square position in 1978, banks have been setting up overnight limits and selectively undertaking active day time trading. Following the introduction of "Guidelines for Internal Control over Foreign Exchange Business" in 1981, maturity mismatches (gaps) are also subject to control. Following the recommendations of Expert Group on Foreign Exchange Markets in India (Sodhani Committee) the calculation of exchange position has been redefined and banks have been given the discretion to set up overnight limits linked to maintenance of capital to Risk-Weighted Assets Ratio of 8% of open position limit.

Presently, the banks are also free to set gap limits with RBI's approval but are required to adopt Value at Risk (VaR) approach to measure the risk associated with forward exposures. Thus the open position limits together with the gap limits form the risk management approach to forex operations. For monitoring such risks banks should follow the instructions contained in Circular A.D (M. A. Series) No.52 dated December 27, 1997 issued by the Exchange Control Department.

The phased deregulation of interest rates and the operational flexibility given to banks in pricing most of the assets and liabilities imply the need for the banking system to hedge the Interest Rate Risk. Interest rate risk is the risk where changes in market interest rates might adversely affect a bank's financial condition. The changes in interest rates affect banks in a larger way. The immediate impact of changes in interest rates is on bank's earnings (i.e. reported profits) by changing its Net Interest Income (NII). A long-term impact of changing interest rates is on bank's Market Value of Equity (MVE) or Net Worth as the economic value of bank's assets, liabilities and off-balance sheet positions get affected due to variation in market interest rates. The interest rate risk when viewed from these two perspectives is known as 'earnings perspective' and 'economic value' perspective, respectively. The risk from the earnings perspective can be measured as changes in the Net Interest Income (NII) or Net Interest Margin (NIM). There are many analytical techniques for measurement and management of Interest Rate Risk. In the context of poor MIS, slow pace of computerisation in banks and the absence of total deregulation, the traditional Gap analysis is considered as a suitable method to measure the Interest Rate Risk in the first place. It is the intention of RBI to move over to the modern techniques of Interest Rate Risk measurement like Duration Gap Analysis, Simulation and Value at Risk over time when banks acquire sufficient expertise and sophistication in acquiring and handling MIS.

The Gap or Mismatch risk can be measured by calculating Gaps over different time intervals as at a given date. Gap analysis measures mismatches between rate sensitive liabilities and rate sensitive assets (including off-balance sheet positions). An asset or liability is normally classified as rate sensitive if:

• within the time interval under consideration, there is a cash flow;

• the interest rate resets/reprices contractually during the interval;

• RBI changes the interest rates (i.e. interest rates on Savings Bank Deposits, DRI advances, Export credit, Refinance, CRR balance, etc.) in cases where interest rates are administered ; and

• it is contractually pre-payable or withdrawal before the stated maturities.

The Gap Report should be generated by grouping rate sensitive liabilities, assets and off-balance sheet positions into time buckets according to residual maturity or next repricing period, whichever is earlier. The difficult task in Gap analysis is determining rate sensitivity. All investments, advances, deposits, borrowings, purchased funds, etc. that mature/reprice within a specified timeframe are interest rate sensitive. Similarly, any principal repayment of loan is also rate sensitive if the bank expects to receive it within the time horizon. This includes final principal payment and interim instalments. Certain assets and liabilities receive/pay rates that vary with a reference rate. These assets and liabilities are repriced at pre-determined intervals and are rate sensitive at the time of repricing. While the interest rates on term deposits are fixed during their currency, the advances portfolio of the banking system is basically floating. The interest rates on advances could be repriced any number of occasions, corresponding to the changes in PLR.

The Gaps may be identified in the following time buckets:

1. 1-28 days

2. 29 days and upto 3 months

3. Over 3 months and upto 6 months

4. Over 6 months and upto 1 year

5. Over 1 year and upto 3 years

6. Over 3 years and upto 5 years

7. Over 5 years

8. Non-sensitive

The various items of rate sensitive assets and liabilities and off-balance sheet items may be classified as explained in Appendix - II and the Reporting Format for interest rate sensitive assets and liabilities is given in Annexure II

The Gap is the difference between Rate Sensitive Assets (RSA) and Rate Sensitive Liabilities (RSL) for each time bucket. The positive Gap indicates that it has more RSAs than RSLs whereas the negative Gap indicates that it has more RSLs. The Gap reports indicate whether the institution is in a position to benefit from rising interest rates by having a positive Gap (RSA > RSL) or whether it is in a position to benefit from declining interest rates by a negative Gap (RSL > RSA). The Gap can, therefore, be used as a measure of interest rate sensitivity.

Each bank should set prudential limits on individual Gaps with the approval of the Board/Management Committee. The prudential limits should have a bearing on the Total Assets , Earning Assets or Equity. The banks may work out Earnings at Risk (EaR) or Net Interest Margin (NIM) based on their views on interest rate movements and fix a prudent level with the approval of the Board/Management Committee.

RBI will also introduce capital adequacy for market risks in due course.

General

The classification of various components of assets and liabilities into different time buckets for preparation of Gap reports (Liquidity and Interest Rate Sensitivity) as indicated in Appendices I & II is the benchmark. Banks which are better equipped to reasonably estimate the behavioural pattern, embedded options, rolls-in and rolls-out, etc of various components of assets and liabilities on the basis of past data / empirical studies could classify them in the appropriate time buckets, subject to approval from the ALCO / Board. A copy of the note approved by the ALCO / Board may be sent to the Department of Banking Supervision.

The present framework does not capture the impact of embedded options, i.e. the customers exercising their options (premature closure of deposits and prepayment of loans and advances) on the liquidity and interest rate risks profile of banks. The magnitude of embedded option risk at times of volatility in market interest rates is quite substantial. Banks should therefore evolve suitable mechanism, supported by empirical studies and behavioural analysis to estimate the future behaviour of assets, liabilities and off-balance sheet items to changes in market variables and estimate the embedded options.

A scientifically evolved internal transfer pricing model by assigning values on the basis of current market rates to funds provided and funds used is an important component for effective implementation of ALM System. The transfer price mechanism can enhance the management of margin i.e. lending or credit spread, the funding or liability spread and mismatch spread. It also helps centralising interest rate risk at one place which facilitate effective control and management of interest rate risk. A well defined transfer pricing system also provide a rational framework for pricing of assets and liabilities.