ICMA ERCC responds to BCBS consultation on leverage ratio disclosure
March 13 2019
The ICMA ERCC has today responded to a consultative document published by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS), on proposed revisions to leverage ratio Pillar 3 disclosure requirements to include disclosures of the leverage ratio exposure measure amounts of SFTs, derivatives replacement cost and central bank reserves calculated using daily averages over the reporting quarter. In its response, the ERCC welcomes the change being proposed by the BCBS in respect of SFTs, which should help to eliminate the excessive volatility that has been seen on or around reporting dates (such as quarter-ends). Nevertheless, the ERCC continues to have some concerns about excessive restrictions in the repo market, arising from the cumulative effect of regulations over the past several years. Accordingly, alongside the proposed introduction of daily average-based leverage reporting for SFTs, it is considered to be important that the BCBS revisits recommendations for potential targeted refinements to the calibration of the leverage ratio, in order to safeguard the provision of sufficient market capacity and repo availability.