My first Publication ocbc_ar17_fullreport_english | Page 94

RISK MANAGEMENT (This section forms an integral part of OCBC’s audited financial statements) System and Infrastructure Robust internal control processes and automated systems have been designed and implemented to support our market risk management approach. This includes automated stress tests with analytical capability, enhanced accuracy, granularity and coverage of VaR elements. These process and systems are also reviewed regularly to assess their continual effectiveness. ASSET LIABILITY MANAGEMENT Asset liability management is the strategic management of the Group’s balance sheet structure and liquidity requirements, covering liquidity sourcing and diversification as well as interest rate and structural foreign exchange management. ASSET LIABILITY MANAGEMENT OVERSIGHT AND ORGANISATION The Asset Liability Management Committee (“ALCO”) is the senior management group that is responsible for the management of the Group’s balance sheet and liquidity risks. The ALCO is chaired by the CEO and includes senior management from the business, risk and support units. The ALCO is supported by the Corporate Treasury department within the Group Finance Division. The Asset Liability Management (“ALM”) department within GRM monitors the banking book interest rate, structural foreign exchange and liquidity risk profiles for the Group under both business-as-usual and stressed scenarios. These are based on the standards established in the ALM framework, policies and procedures which are subject to regular reviews to ensure that they remain relevant in the context of the prevailing market conditions and practices. ASSET LIABILITY MANAGEMENT APPROACH The asset liability management framework comprises liquidity risk 92 OCBC ANNUAL REPORT 2017 management, interest rate risk management and structural foreign exchange risk management. Liquidity Risk The objective of liquidity risk management is to ensure that there are sufficient funds to meet contractual and regulatory financial obligations and to undertake new transactions. Our liquidity management process involves establishing liquidity management policies and limits, and regular monitoring against them. We also perform short-term liquidity stress tests based on institution specific and market-wide liquidity stress scenarios. The results of the stress tests are used to adjust liquidity risk management strategies, policies and positions and to develop effective contingency funding plans. Liquidity monitoring is performed daily within a framework for projecting cash flows on a contractual and behavioural basis. Simulations of liquidity exposures under stressed market scenarios are performed, and the results are taken into account in the risk management processes. Indicators such as liquidity and deposit concentration ratios are used to establish the level of optimal funding mix and asset composition. Funding strategies are established to provide effective diversification and stability in funding sources across tenors, products and geographies. In addition, we maintain liquid assets in excess of regulatory requirements to strengthen our ability to meet liquidity needs during a crisis. These liquid assets comprise statutory reserve eligible securities as well as marketable shares and debt securities. In 2017, we continued our daily regulatory reporting of our group-wide Liquidity Coverage Ratio (“LCR”), excluding OCBC Wing Hang Hong Kong, OCBC Wing Hang Macao and OCBC Yangon. We will be including OCBC Wing Hang Hong Kong and OCBC Wing Hang Macao in our reporting from January 2018 and OCBC Yangon later in 2018. We will also be implementing the regulatory reporting of group-wide NSFR from January 2018 and will incorporate OCBC Yangon later in 2018. Interest Rate Risk The primary goal of interest rate risk management, including IRRBB is to ensure that interest rate risk exposures are maintained within defined risk tolerances and are consistent with our risk appetite. Interest rate risk is the risk to earnings and capital arising from exposure to adverse movements in interest rates. The material sources of interest rate risk are repricing risk, yield curve risk, basis risk and optionality risk. A range of techniques are used to measure these risks from an earnings and economic value perspective. One method involves the simulation of the impact of various interest rate scenarios on the Group’s net interest income and economic value of equity (“EVE”). Other measures include interest rate sensitivity measures such as PV01 as well as repricing gap profile analysis. Triggers are set based on our risk appetite on earnings and capital. The results are used to adjust interest rate risk management strategies, policies and positions. Limits are established to manage interest rate exposures and reviewed regularly to ensure they remain relevant in the context of the prevailing external environment. Control systems are in place to monitor the risk profile against the approved risk thresholds. We are in the process of implementing the regulatory reporting of group-wide IRRBB, which will take effect from December 2018. Structural Foreign Exchange Risk Structural foreign exchange exposure arises primarily from our net investment and retained earnings in overseas branches, subsidiaries as well as other strategic and property assets. We manage structural foreign exchange risk through hedges and matched funding for foreign currency investments where appropriate.