
Volcker rule forces trading desk rethink
When the US ban on bank proprietary trading was published last year, it was full of hazy concepts, which lawyers said would be fleshed out by supervisors. One has now issued guidance to its staff – and banks are starting to gather data for their first reports – but lawyers say even the basics are unclear. Peter Madigan reports

Depending how they are defined, a big bank might have anything from several dozen trading desks to several hundred – and until the advent of the Volcker rule, with its ban on proprietary trading, the bank might not have cared either way. Now, banks do care, but they are struggling for answers.
It matters because trading desks are the entities lumbered with most of the Volcker rule's compliance work. Each desk is required to state which of the rule's allowed activities it engages in – trading US
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.
As outlined in our terms and conditions, https://www.infopro-digital.com/terms-and-conditions/subscriptions/ (point 2.4), printing is limited to a single copy.
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. As outlined in our terms and conditions, https://www.infopro-digital.com/terms-and-conditions/subscriptions/ (clause 2.4), an Authorised User may only make one copy of the materials for their own personal use. You must also comply with the restrictions in clause 2.5.
If you would like to purchase additional rights please email info@risk.net
More on Regulation
Large banks safer for CCPs than they get credit for
Plentiful pre-positioned liquidity softens the blow of resolution, new research argues
Basel uniformity fades as members defy dress code
Rule-makers diverge from Basel III standards, denting aims of comparability and fuelling fears over fair competition
Fate of US Treasury clearing deadline to be decided at crunch meeting
Isda chief predicts delay as clearing houses await confirmation of go-live dates
Value-at-risk models face neglect due to FRTB uncertainty
Some banks delaying material upgrades until timeline to replace VAR becomes clearer
CRR III hangs in the balance as member states push for changes
Top EU lawmaker rejects calls to water down capital rules, while others see room for manoeuvre
Looming US Basel endgame redraft sparks calls to save IRB
Experts say 20 years of data makes credit risk models more appropriate than standardised approach
Cool heads must guide financial regulation of climate risk
Supervisors can’t simply rely on ‘magical thinking’ of market discipline, says Sergio Scandizzo
Markets worry EU’s reporting simplification will add to burden
Rather than reducing firms’ obligations, market participants fear it could end up increasing requirements