What is Capital Risk? (2024)

Why does a bank need capital and what are the main types?

Capital is the cushion a bank uses to absorb unexpected losses and protect more senior creditors, such as depositors, whilst also protecting the stability of the financial system should a bank enter resolution.

The types of capital are structured through a creditor hierarchy and will absorb losses at different stages.

The first layer of capital that would be used to absorb losses is Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1). It is the book value of shareholders’ equity less regulatory deductions. The shareholders own the bank and their equity is their stake in the bank. They’ll receive a return on their equity through capital growth or dividends, but they accept the risk that their equity will absorb losses if and when they occur.

The next two layers are Additional Tier 1 and Tier 2 capital. AT1 instruments convert into equity at a certain point of non-viability, typically if the CET1 level gets too low. Once it has been converted into equity it can be used to absorb losses.

Tier 2 debt can be used to absorb losses, but once the bank has reached this point, it will have entered into resolution and/or become insolvent.

CET1 and AT1 capital are called going concern instruments as the bank can still be brought back to health, whilst T2 capital is known as gone concern as it will be used once the bank has entered resolution.

What are the main risks to bank capital and how is it managed?

Firstly, credit risk, the risk that a customer, client or counterparty fails to meet their obligations.

Secondly, market risk, the risk that movements in financial markets create a loss.

Finally, operational risk, the risk that the bank loses money because of operational events.

Each of these risk types will typically have their own risk appetite which will be managed independently.

The capital risk appetite will be set by the board and they will determine:

  1. How much capital they believe the bank needs to support its business plan
  2. How much capital the bank needs to meet its regulatory requirements
  3. How much capital the bank needs to meet its desired target external ratings

Today, a bank’s internal approach to capital risk measurement is called ‘Economic Capital’.

What is Capital Risk? (2024)

FAQs

What is an example of a capital risk? ›

Capital at risk meaning

Good examples include buying stocks and shares, commodities like gold, or even buying a house. With these kinds of investments, there is no guaranteed return on your money - you could make a nice profit, or you could end up with less than you originally had.

What is the meaning of capital at risk? ›

Capital risk is the chance that all or part of an investment is lost, especially where there is no guarantee of a full return of investment, this applies to most investment types.

What is capital risk for banks? ›

A bank needs capital to absorb losses so as to protect more senior creditors from losses. Put simply, capital risk is the risk that a bank doesn't have enough capital. There are several types of capital, each with different risk characteristics such as CET1, Additional Tier 1, and Tier 2 capital.

What is the difference between capital risk and credit risk? ›

Capital risk relates to the ability to absorb losses, losses can be incurred due to credit risk, liquidity risk etc. However, credit risk is the probability that the borrowers will default on paying the money back.

What is capital risk also known as? ›

It applies to the whole gamut of assets that are not subject to a guarantee of full return of original capital. Investors face capital risk when they invest in stocks, non-government bonds, real estate, commodities, and other alternative assets - where this is known as market risk.

What causes capital risk? ›

There are several factors that can contribute to capital risk, including market volatility, economic uncertainty, geopolitical risks, and changes in industry trends. For example, if there is a sudden economic downturn, stock prices may fall sharply, causing investors to lose a significant portion of their investment.

How do you calculate capital risk? ›

The risk-adjusted capital ratio is used to gauge a financial institution's ability to continue functioning in the event of an economic downturn. It is calculated by dividing a financial institution's total adjusted capital by its risk-weighted assets (RWA).

Why is it called risk capital? ›

The equity share capital is called risk capital because equity shareholders are entitled to get the dividend only after all other classes of shareholders have received their specified returns.

What is another term for risk capital? ›

noun. wealth available for investment in new or speculative enterprises. synonyms: venture capital.

What are the capital risk measures? ›

There are five principal risk measures, and each measure provides a unique way to assess the risk present in investments that are under consideration. The five measures include alpha, beta, R-squared, standard deviation, and the Sharpe ratio.

How do risk capitals work? ›

The rules of some editions describe a variant called Capital Risk, where each player has a capital in one of the initially occupied territories. The player to capture all capitals wins. Any armies and territories that belong to the losing nation are turned over to the victor.

What is the difference between capital risk and liquidity risk? ›

Liquidity risk affects an investor's ability to sell the property quickly and at a fair price, while capital risk affects the value of the investment and the return on investment. Investors with a #short-term investment horizon or who require quick access to cash may be more concerned about liquidity risk.

What are the risk based capital risks? ›

These risks include the possibility of default of bonds or loss of market value for equities (mostly common stock). Insurance (underwriting) risk—Insurance (or underwriting) risk reflects the amount of surplus (assets – liabilities) available to offset possible losses from excess claims.

What is the capital value risk? ›

Value at risk (VaR) is the maximum potential loss of a given position or business area or business unit within a given time horizon and confidence level. Value-at-risk measures may be helpful to the manager for solving two crucial problems.

What is capital at risk strategy? ›

Capital at risk can be used to pay losses or it can be used by investors who are required to have capital in an investment in order to get certain tax treatments.

What is the most risky form of capital in a company? ›

Investment in Equity shares is extensively risky. The bigger the volatility of a stock, or any asset, the greater its risk. Unit confidences that invest just in equities are at greater risk than those that invest in additional assets. Their rates move further and the possibility of loss is greater.

What are the three types of risk capital markets? ›

The most common types of market risk include interest rate risk, equity risk, commodity risk, and currency risk.

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