Financial institutions are faced with the challenge to forecast future credit portfolio losses. It is common practice to focus on portfolio models consisting of a limited set of parameters, such as the probability of default, asset correlation, loss given default or exposure at default. A simple...

A side-effect of the better differentiation of credit risk in the New Basel Capital Accord is the danger of a sharp rise of capital requirements in recessions due to a large number of borrower downgrades and defaults. Thus, the Accord may worsen recessions. In the present paper these worries...

Recent studies find a positive correlation between default and loss given default rates of credit portfolios. In response, financial regulators require financial institutions to base their capital on 'Downturn' loss rates given default which are also known as Downturn LGDs. This article proposes...

This paper analyzes the level and cyclicality of bank capital requirement in relation to (i) the model methodologies through-the-cycle and point-in-time, (ii) four distinct downturn loss rate given default concepts, and (iii) US corporate and mortgage loans. The major finding is that less...

With the New Basle Capital Accord banks' capital requirements are determined with risk weights based on internal and external ratings and probabilities of default (PD's). PD's are mostly estimated from historical default rates. In recent working papers the Basle Committee on Banking Supervision...

A major topic in empirical finance is correlation of default risk. Correlations are the main drivers for credit risk on a portfolio basis and for banks' capital requirements under the New Basel Accord. However, empirical evidence on the magnitude of correlations is rather scarce, mainly due to...

Among the most crucial input parameters for credit portfolio risk models are the co-movements of default risks. Due to limited empirical evidence about the magnitude of correlations the New Basel Capital Accord sets standard requirements for calculating regulatory capital requirements, e.g. in...

The New Basel Capital Accord will allow the determination of banks' regulatory capital requirements due to probabilities of default which are estimated and forecasted from internal ratings. Broadly, two rating philosophies are distinguished: Through the Cycle versus Point in Time Ratings. We...

The following article develops a simultaneous multi-factor model for defaults and recoveries. Applying this model, risk parameters can be forecast using systematic and idiosyncratic risk fac-tors and their implied correlations. The theoretical framework is accompanied by an empirical analysis in...

We model multiyear loss distributions based on credit scores and macroeconomic risk drivers. In a two-step approach, we first model future default probabilities as functions of these risk factors and, second, model processes for the risk factors themselves. As an essential extension to one-year...