Value at Risk (VaR) Demystified: Methods, Assumptions, EVT, Stress Tests, and Back Testing
Overview and intentValue at Risk (VaR) estimates the maximum expected loss over a specified horizon at a chosen confidence level, giving a single, comparable summary of market risk across portfolios and desks. It answers: over horizon T, with confidence level p, what is the worst loss not exceeded under normal conditions. It is widely used…
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A Comprehensive Guide to Duration, Convexity, and Bond Portfolio Management
Duration explained • Duration measures a bond’s sensitivity to interest rate changes and can also be viewed as the present value–weighted average time to receive cash flows, expressed in years. • Intuition: higher duration means greater price movement for a given yield change; lower duration dampens price swings. • For a small change in yield…
Read article Measuring Interest Rate Risk: PVBP, Hedging strategies, Duration, and Sensitivity Approaches in Banking
Interest rate risk is quantified using sensitivity-based measures that translate small yield changes into price and P&L impacts, enabling precise hedging and portfolio construction. This article explains core methods: the sensitivity approach, price value of a basis point (PVBP), portfolio PVBP computation, hedging using PVBP, other practical PVBP applications, and duration. Measurement of interest rate…
Read article Fixed Income Securities in India: Bonds, Government Role, Market Structure, and Valuation (with Worked G‑Sec Pricing)
Fixed income securities deliver scheduled cash flows via interest and principal, with India’s debt markets operating under RBI (sovereign, money markets) and SEBI (corporate bonds) oversight. What is a bond? A bond is a debt contract where an issuer raises funds and commits to periodic coupons and principal redemption at maturity, first sold in primary…
Read article Organizational Framework for Trading and Market Risk Management: Structures, Policies, and Strategies
Market risk in banking demands a well-defined organizational structure, robust strategies, and disciplined policies. Effective frameworks not only protect banks from financial shocks but also align trading activities with regulatory expectations and shareholder interests. Let us explore how banks structure themselves to manage market risk and trading activities, and how strategies, policies, and procedures work…
Understanding Trading Portfolio Risks in Banks: Interest Rate, Market, Credit, and Beyond
Risk management lies at the core of banking operations, ensuring stability, regulatory compliance, and sustainable profitability. In a dynamic financial environment, banks face a wide spectrum of risks—ranging from market-driven volatility to model errors—that must be identified, measured, and mitigated through systematic policies and strategies. Below is a comprehensive overview of the major risks associated…
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