NAB chief admits weaknesses
National Australia Bank (NAB) chief executive Frank Cicutto last week admitted that weak internal processes had enabled the four traders it suspended on January 13 to carry out a suspected fraud, reports Risknews' sister publication, FX Week .
"We have identified those weaknesses and have closed them," he said, in an interview published on the bank’s website on Friday.
Cicutto played down media reports that the bank’s final bill for unauthorised forex options trading could be as high as A$600 million (US$467 million) – up from its current estimate of A$185 million.
But that did little to dampen speculation in the market that the final losses are likely to soar once NAB completes a full revaluation of its options portfolio. While the bank has said the unauthorised trading activity was solely in Australian and New Zealand dollar options, traders reported that NAB’s options team had been particularly aggressive in euro call options that may prove to be linked to the ongoing inquiry.
One market source speculated that the weak internal procedures mentioned by Cicutto may have enabled the traders to create trades between two internal books - one for exotic options and one for vanillas. Internal fictitious trades would be much harder for risk managers to detect than trades created with outside counterparties.
The full extent of NAB’s losses will become clear this week when the bank announces the results of the revaluation.
Only users who have a paid subscription or are part of a corporate subscription are able to print or copy content.
To access these options, along with all other subscription benefits, please contact info@risk.net or view our subscription options here: http://subscriptions.risk.net/subscribe
You are currently unable to print this content. Please contact info@risk.net to find out more.
You are currently unable to copy this content. Please contact info@risk.net to find out more.
Copyright Infopro Digital Limited. All rights reserved.
You may share this content using our article tools. Printing this content is for the sole use of the Authorised User (named subscriber), as outlined in our terms and conditions - https://www.infopro-insight.com/terms-conditions/insight-subscriptions/
If you would like to purchase additional rights please email info@risk.net
Copyright Infopro Digital Limited. All rights reserved.
You may share this content using our article tools. Copying this content is for the sole use of the Authorised User (named subscriber), as outlined in our terms and conditions - https://www.infopro-insight.com/terms-conditions/insight-subscriptions/
If you would like to purchase additional rights please email info@risk.net
More on Regulation
Industry calls for major rethink of Basel III rules
Isda AGM: Divergence on implementation suggests rules could be flawed, bankers say
Saudi Arabia poised to become clean netting jurisdiction
Isda AGM: Netting regulation awaiting final approvals from regulators
Japanese megabanks shun internal models as FRTB bites
Isda AGM: All in-scope banks opt for standardised approach to market risk; Nomura eyes IMA in 2025
CFTC chair backs easing of G-Sib surcharge in Basel endgame
Isda AGM: Fed’s proposed surcharge changes could hike client clearing cost by 80%
UK investment firms feeling the heat on prudential rules
Signs firms are falling behind FCA’s expectations on wind-down and liquidity risk management
The American way: a stress-test substitute for Basel’s IRRBB?
Bankers divided over new CCAR scenario designed to bridge supervisory gap exposed by SVB failure
Industry warns CFTC against rushing to regulate AI for trading
Vote on workplan pulled amid calls to avoid duplicating rules from other regulatory agencies
Bank of Communications moves early to meet TLAC requirements
China Construction Bank becomes last China G-Sib to release TLAC plans
Most read
- Top 10 operational risks for 2024
- Top 10 op risks: third parties stoke cyber risk
- Japanese megabanks shun internal models as FRTB bites