FRTB IMA DRC and the 3 Basis Point Floor

As part of the default risk charge (DRC) in the internal models approach (IMA) within the Fundamental Review of the Trading Book (FRTB), the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS) has set a floor of 3 basis points (bp) for the probability of default (PD) of any entity. This input floor applies to all entities and primarily impacts the highest rated AAA sovereigns.

There has been no evidence published to date to support the calibration of the 3 bps floor and as local jurisdictions implement FRTB, some jurisdictions have already published their intentions to adjust this floor.

This paper provides quantitative and qualitative analysis in support of the removal of the PD floor. The paper uses the Bayesian inference model to estimate the probability distribution of rare events (eg, defaults of highly-rated entities) and sensitivity analysis is performed to demonstrate its robustness.

Documents (1) for FRTB IMA DRC and the 3 Basis Point Floor

IRD Trading Activity Q3 2025

This report analyzes interest rate derivatives (IRD) trading activity reported in Europe. The analysis is based on transactions publicly reported by 30 European approved publication arrangements (APAs) and trading venues (TVs). Key highlights for the third quarter of 2025 include:...

Ardagh Credit Event Processing and Trading

The Credit Derivatives Determinations Committee announced on December 15 that a restructuring credit event has occurred with respect to Ardagh. An ISDA Credit Market Infrastructure Group call was held on December 15 to discuss the processing of this event. The...

Future Path - IQ December 2025

At the start of ISDA’s 40th anniversary year, IQ convened the pioneers of the association to reflect on how a desperate need for standardization in the early days of the derivatives market brought dealers together to develop a dictionary of...