Available-for-sale (AFS)
Don’t count on repo to monetise liquidity books, say experts
QT could force banks to sell bonds during stress, underlining need for fair value accounting
Some US banks defy yield uncertainty to grow AFS securities
Treasuries remain preferred buy, but regionals also pile into munis, MBS in Q2
US systemic risk scores hit records at JPM, Citi and 5 others
Riskiness of top dealers inflated by fair-value securities and higher reliance on short-term funding
US banks reshaped liquidity buffers in Q2
Truist, BofA and US Bancorp lead highly liquid assets pile-up
The AOCI elephant in the DFAST room
After March’s banking crisis, Fed stress tests should adopt harsher and wider ranging rate scenarios
BofA cut $89 billion of AFS securities in H1
Pivot away from fair-value bond investments most sweeping among large US banks
Five US banks would breach CET1 buffers on AFS loss reinclusion
Fed’s vice-chair proposal to scrap AOCI waiver would cripple KeyCorp the most
Unrealised losses down but not out in latest DFAST
Bank of America would emerge from Fed’s scenario with $22 billion net AOCI gain
Taking stock: putting a price on US bank regulation post-SVB
Tougher requirements could “blow a hole” of 200+bp in regulatory capital ratios – and cripple equity returns
Big US banks boost cash holdings by nearly 8% in Q1
Dash for cash props up HQLAs as AFS securities drop to six-year low
At US banks, share of HTM securities ticks up in Q1
Despite liquidity squeeze, regional banks increased proportion to a six-year high
BofA slashed AFS Treasuries holdings by 36% in Q1
Partial sale of securities portfolio crystallises $200 million of paper losses
US banks seize chance to transfer securities from HTM to AFS
Wells Fargo, JP Morgan and Citi reclassify $34bn following new hedge accounting treatment
Kneejerk regulatory reaction to SVB risks lending squeeze
Risk manager at regional bank says any Dodd-Frank 2.0 would be ‘fighting the last war’
For 11 US regionals, capital adequacy hinges on AOCI waiver
A repeal of the 2019 provision would hit KeyCorp and Charles Schwab the most
The Catch-22 of US banks’ liquidity buffers
US banks are using held-to-maturity bonds to underpin liquidity adequacy, grating against accounting guidance. What happens if they’re forced to sell?
Did US hedge accounting rules contribute to SVB’s recklessness?
Hedging and directional risk-taking was a problem, but FASB regime may have complicated matters
US banks vulnerable to losses if HTM securities need to be sold
Overall mark-to-market value $300bn lower than amortised cost across 30 banks
SVB opens floodgates on liquidity buffers debate
European regulator says HQLAs should be booked at fair value, but not everyone agrees
HTM securities hit $2.5trn at US banks in 2022
BofA, First Foundation and Wells Fargo reported largest share of HTM to total securities behind SVB
First Republic had just $11bn eligible for Fed’s new facility
The bank held nearly $20bn of municipal bonds, representing over 60% of its securities portfolio
US regional banks hold smaller proportion of high quality assets
Share of Level 1 assets at Capital One, Truist, US Bancorp lowest across US banks subject to LCR
At US banks, less than 50% of liquid assets classified as AFS
Goldman Sachs reported smallest proportion relative to HQLAs across US banks subject to LCR
Contrarian Goldman grew fair-value bond book in 2022
Held-to-maturity securities balloon, but bank also adds mark-to-market Treasuries as others curtail them