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Derivatives in Plain Words by Frederic Lau, with a ... - HKU Libraries

Derivatives in Plain Words by Frederic Lau, with a ... - HKU Libraries

Derivatives in Plain Words by Frederic Lau, with a ... - HKU Libraries

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ensure that there is sufficient awareness of the risks and the size of exposureof the trad<strong>in</strong>g activities conducted <strong>in</strong> overseas operations.The local countrymanager also needs to have sufficient understand<strong>in</strong>g of the bus<strong>in</strong>ess <strong>in</strong> histerritory and the formal authority to ensure that proper standards ofcontrol are applied (<strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g segregation of duties between the front andback offices). This is also necessary so that he can communicate effectively<strong>with</strong> the local regulators. In the case of Hong Kong, the chief executive ofthe local branch of a foreign bank is fully accountable to the MA for theconduct of all the bus<strong>in</strong>ess conducted <strong>by</strong> the branch <strong>in</strong> Hong Kong, evenif he is not functionally responsible for certa<strong>in</strong> parts of the bus<strong>in</strong>ess.BOARD AND SENIOR HANAGEMENT OVERSIGHT12. Consistent <strong>with</strong> its general responsibility for corporate governance, theboard should approve written policies which def<strong>in</strong>e the overall framework<strong>with</strong><strong>in</strong> which derivatives activities should be conducted and the riskscontrolled. The MA's observations over the last year are that acomprehensive set of such policies have been lack<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> some <strong>in</strong>stitutions.This should be rectified if it has not already been done.13. The policy framework for derivatives approved <strong>by</strong> the board may begeneral <strong>in</strong> nature (<strong>with</strong> the detail to be filled <strong>in</strong> <strong>by</strong> senior management).But the framework should, among other th<strong>in</strong>gs:a) establish the <strong>in</strong>stitution's overall appetite for tak<strong>in</strong>g risk and ensurethat it is consistent <strong>with</strong> its strategic objectives, capital strength andmanagement capability. (Appetite for risk can be expressed <strong>in</strong> termsof the amount of earn<strong>in</strong>gs or capital which the <strong>in</strong>stitution is preparedto put at risk, and the degree of fluctuation <strong>in</strong> earn<strong>in</strong>gs, e.g. fromposition-tak<strong>in</strong>g, which it is will<strong>in</strong>g to accept);b) towards this end, def<strong>in</strong>e the approved derivatives products and theauthorized derivatives activities, e.g. market-mak<strong>in</strong>g, position-tak<strong>in</strong>g,arbitrage, hedg<strong>in</strong>g. (The nature of such exposure should be carefullydef<strong>in</strong>ed to ensure, for example, that activities described as arbitragedo not <strong>in</strong> practice <strong>in</strong>volve the tak<strong>in</strong>g of outright positions);Guidel<strong>in</strong>e on Risk Management of <strong>Derivatives</strong> and Other Traded Instruments

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