This article examines the key elements of RBI’s Master Directions on Fraud Risk Management, focusing on RFAs, EWS, staff accountability, and governance requirements. Red Flagged Accounts (RFA) A Red Flagged Account is identified when one or more Early Warning Signals indicate the possibility of fraudulent activity in a loan or credit facility. RBI mandates banks…
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued the *Commercial Banks – Credit Risk Management (Amendment) Directions, 2026* on January 5, 2026, which will come into force from April 1, 2026. Commercial banks have also been given the flexibility to adopt these directions earlier, in full. These amendments represent a significant step towards strengthening credit risk…
Moving Towards a More Risk-Sensitive Banking System, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has released two important draft directions to strengthen the prudential framework for credit risk assessment and provisioning in line with international best practices under the Basel III reforms. 1. Draft Directions on Capital Charge for Credit Risk – Standardised Approach (2025) Aligning…
(Step‑by‑step practical examples for the key formulas and relations used in option valuation, using plain numbers and intuitive explanations) Option valuation estimates the fair value of an option by modeling expected payoffs under risk‑neutral probabilities and discounting at the risk‑free rate, with price sensitivities captured by Greeks and implied volatility extracted from market prices for…
[At the bottom of this article you will find, practical, finance‑ready examples that apply each formula step by step, with clean numbers and brief interpretations] Executive SummaryProbability theory underpins quantitative risk analysis and investment decision-making by modeling uncertainty, measuring variability, and estimating tail risks across portfolios and credit exposures. This article explains core concepts—probability, conditional…
Statistics forms the backbone of data-driven decision-making in banking, finance, and economics. By applying various statistical measures, financial professionals can identify patterns, assess risks, and evaluate performance across portfolios and business activities. This article explores key statistical concepts essential for financial analysis, ranging from frequency distributions to advanced portfolio metrics. Statistical Measures and Frequency Distribution…
A swap is an over-the-counter derivative in which two parties agree to exchange cash flows based on specified terms for a defined period, typically without exchanging principal and with cash flows computed on a notional amount. Swaps allow participants to transform the nature of their assets or liabilities (e.g., from floating to fixed interest) and…
An option is a derivative contract that grants the buyer the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell an underlying asset at a specified strike price on or before a stated expiration date, in exchange for a premium paid to the seller (writer) of the option. Option terminology Call option A call option…
(This article presents how futures differ from forwards, why clearing and margining matter for performance assurance, how pricing links to carry and yield curves, and how settlement conventions and market structure shape real-world hedging and trading outcomes.) A futures contract is a standardized agreement traded on an exchange to buy or sell an underlying asset…
IntroductionA forward contract is a customized agreement between two parties to buy or sell an asset at a predetermined price on a specified future date, widely used for hedging price or rate risk in commodities, currencies, and interest rates. It is an over‑the‑counter (OTC) instrument, typically with bilateral credit exposure and flexible terms tailored to…