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
Latest
Response to EC Call for Evidence on Tax Omnibus
On March 30, ISDA, the International Securities Lending Association and the Association for Financial Markets in Europe responded to the European Commission’s (EC) call for evidence on the tax omnibus. The associations argue that inconsistent interpretation of “beneficial ownership” among...
Managing Risk for Australian Superannuation Funds
Assets managed by the Australian superannuation sector reached A$4.5 trillion in December 2025, equivalent to around 160% of Australia’s GDP. Given its size, the sector has rapidly expanded its global footprint, with the share of offshore investments growing as a...
Updated OTC Derivatives Compliance Calendar
ISDA has updated its global calendar of compliance deadlines and regulatory dates for the over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives space.
Next Steps on a Much Improved Basel III Endgame
Publication of the revised Basel III endgame proposal earlier this month marks an important step towards completion of the global capital reforms, giving banks much-needed clarity on the likely calibration of the rules in the US. The new proposal is...