Operational risk
WHAT IS THIS? Operational risks are those arising from people, processes and systems – the biggest form of exposure for many industries, but one that was neglected by financial firms until the collapse of Barings Bank in 1995. It was added to the Basel capital framework in 2004, but attempts to model operational risk were dealt a heavy blow by the huge, unforeseen losses suffered by banks in the aftermath of the financial crisis.
Penny Cagan in conversation with Jonathan Howitt
Algorithmics' operational risk expert Penny Cagan speaks with the Man Group's Jonathan Howitt on key challenges facing op risk executives globally
Investigations find no evidence of 'fat finger' errors in US trading fall
NYSE, SEC and CFTC claim 'fat finger' error not the cause of last week's stock market plunge.
Operational risk possible cause of US equity nose-dive
Fat finger error mooted as possible cause for US market plunge
To boldly go
Throughout its brief history, the operational risk discipline has been labouring under a limiting and perhaps inaccurate definition of what it is and what it should be covering. Op risk needs to broaden its remit across the enterprise if it is going to…
Sound scenarios
Mariano Selvaggi describes the issues the Operational Risk Consortium took into account when preparing its report on the use of scenario analysis of operational risk in insurance, and how a sound scenarios framework can benefit firms
Natural selection -- Software rankings
This year’s OR&R software survey shows that not only is operational risk management expanding way beyond its initial remit, but governance, risk and compliance is also establishing itself as a firm favourite among those looking to weather recent market…
Action reactions
At OpRisk USA 2010 participants discussed how they can deal with increasing waves of regulation and add value in the new financial environment.
Right place, right time
Eileen Robbins, vice-president in operational risk at the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation, has a history of turning up just as things are kicking off. She talks to OR&R about the DTCC’s much-lauded handling of the Lehman Brothers collapse, and…
Where to from here?
Editor Victoria Tozer-Pennington reviews the op risk events from the month that range from volcanic ash clouds to civil fraud.
CBI: Quarter of UK power plants face closure
Independent business lobby group the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has warned the latest draft of the European Union Directive for Industrial Emissions could force at least a quarter of the UK’s power plants to close, which would raise a major…
Why banks must prepare for a 'black ash' event
Erupting volcanoes do not often show up in scenario plans for financial services firms but they might do from now on.
Institute of Operational Risk names new chairman
Ed Sankey takes over from Philip Martin as head of the Institute of Operational Risk (IOR).
Banks call for new consultation on Cebs op risk guidelines
British Bankers Association submits response to consultation and hearing
BP and CNPC push forward in Iraq despite oil law uncertainty
BP and China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) have awarded a raft of other energy and commodities companies deals to start drilling and production in the lucrative Iraqi Rumaila oilfield, which they operate, despite the current lack of a petroleum…
Where's your motivation?
Discussion about incentives to promote good risk management is increasingly gaining relevance for Basel II advanced measurement approach applicants, as well as for banks adopting the standardised approach
Passage to India
It’s a long way from Basel to Mumbai, and it will be a while before India’s banks have fully implemented the Basel II capital requirements framework. OR&R looks at how far they have come, and the obstacles they must overcome on the path ahead
Making Solvency II stick
Dubbed 'Basel for insurers', operational risk management under the Solvency II regime is still mystifying most in the insurance world. This case study highlights the basic issues to consider.
Road to transition
For a moment it looked as if the post-crisis drive for reform was losing momentum. But the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision has established working groups to keep the industry focused, and to propose ways to keep moving forward