For example, if the haircut was 10% and the value of the security was $ the most the investor could lose would be $ Thus, the facility eliminates much of the downside risk that would arise from a very deep recession or the fire sales of assets that could cause prices to drop sharply temporarily. This is a very exciting program because it provides balance sheet capacity to risk capital that cannot currently get leverage. It goes beyond current programs. Just as important, once it is up and running it can be scaled up and out in many different dimensions. In principle, it could be applied to other distressed asset classes, it could move down the credit spectrum to lower-rated tranches, and it could be used to fund older vintage assets. Two other important initiatives are also in train that deserve note. Last week the Treasury and the major banking supervisors announced the details of a capital stress assessment process for all bank holding companies with assets in excess of $ billion. This process is designed to ensure that the banking system has sufficient, high-quality capital to be able to absorb the losses that would likely be generated by an economic scenario considerably worse than generally expected. The stress assessment assumes an adverse economic environment. For example, under this scenario, the unemployment rate is anticipated to average more than 10% in 2010, considerably higher than the consensus economic forecast. The stress assessment will unfold in three steps.
More relevant to today’s conference, following the FSB’s recent Plenary meeting in Tokyo we announced that in the next few weeks we will issue a consultative paper on resolution planning and, in particular, on resolution strategies. The paper, drawn up by a subcommittee led by Christine Cumming of the New York Federal Reserve Bank, will cover three areas. The first is Recovery Triggers and Stress Scenarios used in recovery planning. Firms need to ensure that triggers are not linked mechanically to metrics that lag behind their true financial condition – a problem with some previous earlyintervention frameworks. Recovery actions must start sufficiently early. But care must be taken to avoid markets overacting to the fact of such actions being taken. That is not easy. Second, the consultative paper will outline a possible framework for national authorities to use when identifying the critical functions and support services of firms that need to be sustained in distressed conditions. What matters here is focusing on those services that are vital to the economy. The third, and most important, area of consultation is about the development of Resolution Strategies and Operational Resolution Plans. This guidance aims to capture the main issues that authorities should address.