GDP growth of 2¾ per cent through 2009 compares with our forecast a year ago of –1 per cent. That is, the level of real GDP today is  2  BIS Review 54/2010  nearly 4 per cent higher than had been anticipated.
Furthermore, thought must be given to the capital adequacy requirements laid down by the supervisory authorities. As the equity capital ratio is derived from the risk assets and the market risks, on the one hand, and from the capital resources, on the other, both the soundness of the accounts and their international comparability are of paramount importance.