Stressed value-at-risk (SVAR)
As banks limit FRTB model use, outputs get more volatile
Risk managers say selection of stress window becomes more sensitive if fewer desks are on IMA

RBI’s modelled market charges surge 31% as SVAR spike
Widespread volatility in first half of year inflated stressed gauge despite 2022 wind-down of rouble positions

RBC’s loan-underwriting VAR drops 59% as volumes dry up
Widening credit spreads had previously sent market risk on syndicated loans skyrocketing

AgBank’s regulatory VAR hits record high in first half
Chinese bank’s market risk up by over a third to highest level in a decade
ING’s market risk up 13% on higher SVAR
Q2 figures marked reversal of downward trend for modelled market RWAs
US arms of Credit Suisse, SMBC stumble on VAR
Breaches of trading forecasts in Q1 result in higher value-at-risk multipliers for the duo
Nordea’s market RWAs drop 20% on Q4 SVAR cut
Last quarter marked reversal of fortunes after 30-month high hit in June
European banks’ CVA RWAs up €2.2bn in Q3
Banco Sabadell, Intesa Sanpaolo and ING Bank reported largest quarterly increases
Vol pushed HSBC’s modelled market risk up 37% in Q3
Erratic markets in Europe and Asia blamed for $6.4bn increase led by VAR and SVAR-based charges
NatWest’s modelled market RWAs up 10% on RNIV backstop
Bank sees higher charges while it reworks VAR engine
RBC takes $296m hit on underwritten syndicated loans
The latest markdowns were higher than at the outbreak of the pandemic
Commerz’s VAR multiplier ratchets up after H1 breaches
Bank dodged increase in market RWAs by rebalancing to a lower-risk trading portfolio
Deutsche’s market RWAs climb 28% as VAR multiplier bites
RWAs in the ‘corporate and other’ segment surged to €7.8bn in Q2 from €715m at end-2021
Regulators should be careful what they wish for on FRTB
New framework likely to reduce use of internal models, as planned; but is that a good thing?
Danske breaches VAR four times, spurring RWA hike
Fifth hypothetical breach in six months triggers VAR multiplier increase
Nordea’s IMA RWAs climb 11% in Q2
Relentless rise in VAR keeps pushing up bank’s market charges
VAR multiplier hike sends UniCredit’s IMA charges up 23%
Market volatility following the invasion of Ukraine one of the drivers behind the increase
Capital One changed SVAR window 24 times in Q1
Since 2020, the lender updated its chosen stress period dozens of times each quarter, far more frequently than peers
Danske, Deutsche and PNC pin SVAR to Covid-19
Most global banks continue to use the global financial crisis to stress-test their portfolios
JP Morgan leads US banks on surging VAR capital charges
Requirements connected to commodity positions jumped 426% in the first quarter
Fortunes of VAR: dealers decry effect of war on risk models
European banks with large Russian derivatives exposures face risk of backtesting exceptions – and higher capital requirements
NatWest’s market RWAs up 8% on higher VAR multiplier
Bank incurred regulatory backtesting exceptions amid heightened market volatility
Market volatility weighs on UBS
Higher VAR and SVAR charges lifted market RWAs by $2.9bn in Q1
Deutsche’s SVAR window update adds €2.2bn to RWAs
First-quarter surge comes after four consecutive reductions