Appendix A to Part 255 — Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements for Covered Trading Activities
I. Purpose
a. This appendix sets forth reporting and recordkeeping requirements that
certain banking entities must satisfy in connection with the restrictions on
proprietary trading set forth in subpart B (“proprietary trading restrictions”).
Pursuant to § 255.20(d), this appendix applies to a banking entity that,
together with its affiliates and subsidiaries, has significant trading assets
and liabilities. These entities are required to (i) furnish periodic reports to
the SEC regarding a variety of quantitative measurements of their covered
trading activities, which vary depending on the scope and size of covered
trading activities, and (ii) create and maintain records documenting the
preparation and content of these reports. The requirements of this appendix must
be incorporated into the banking entity's internal compliance program under
§ 255.20.
b. The purpose of this appendix is to assist banking entities and the SEC
in:
(1) Better understanding and evaluating the scope, type, and profile of the
banking entity's covered trading activities;
(2) Monitoring the banking entity's covered trading activities;
(3) Identifying covered trading activities that warrant further review or
examination by the banking entity to verify compliance with the proprietary
trading restrictions;
(4) Evaluating whether the covered trading activities of trading desks engaged
in market making-related activities subject to § 255.4(b) are consistent with
the requirements governing permitted market making-related activities;
(5) Evaluating whether the covered trading activities of trading desks that are
engaged in permitted trading activity subject to § 255.4, § 255.5, or § 255.6(a)
and (b) (i.e., underwriting and market making-related activity,
risk-mitigating hedging, or trading in certain government obligations) are
consistent with the requirement that such activity not result, directly or
indirectly, in a material exposure to high-risk assets or high-risk trading
strategies;
(6) Identifying the profile of particular covered trading activities of the
banking entity, and the individual trading desks of the banking entity, to help
establish the appropriate frequency and scope of examination by SEC of such
activities; and
(7) Assessing and addressing the risks associated with the banking entity's
covered trading activities.
c. Information that must be furnished pursuant to this appendix is not intended
to serve as a dispositive tool for the identification of permissible or
impermissible activities.
d. In addition to the quantitative measurements required in this appendix, a
banking entity may need to develop and implement other quantitative measurements
in order to effectively monitor its covered trading activities for compliance
with section 13 of the BHC Act and this part and to have an effective compliance
program, as required by § 255.20. The effectiveness of particular quantitative
measurements may differ based on the profile of the banking entity's businesses
in general and, more specifically, of the particular trading desk, including
types of instruments traded, trading activities and strategies, and history and
experience (e.g., whether the trading desk is an established, successful
market maker or a new entrant to a competitive market). In all cases, banking
entities must ensure that they have robust measures in place to identify and
monitor the risks taken in their trading activities, to ensure that the
activities are within risk tolerances established by the banking entity, and to
monitor and examine for compliance with the proprietary trading restrictions in
this part.
e. On an ongoing basis, banking entities must carefully monitor, review, and
evaluate all furnished quantitative measurements, as well as any others that
they choose to utilize in order to maintain compliance with section 13 of the
BHC Act and this part. All measurement results that indicate a heightened risk
of impermissible proprietary trading, including with respect to
otherwise-permitted activities under §§ 255.4 through 255.6(a) and (b), or that
result in a material exposure to high-risk assets or high-risk trading
strategies, must be escalated within the banking entity for review, further
analysis, explanation to SEC, and remediation, where appropriate. The
quantitative measurements discussed in this appendix should be helpful to
banking entities in identifying and managing the risks related to their covered
trading activities.
[84 FR 61974, Nov. 14, 2019]
II. Definitions
The terms used in this appendix have the same meanings as set forth in §§ 255.2
and 255.3. In addition, for purposes of this appendix, the following definitions
apply:
Applicability identifies the trading desks for which a banking entity is
required to calculate and report a particular quantitative measurement based on
the type of covered trading activity conducted by the trading desk.
Calculation period means the period of time for which a particular
quantitative measurement must be calculated.
Comprehensive profit and loss means the net profit or loss of a trading
desk's material sources of trading revenue over a specific period of time,
including, for example, any increase or decrease in the market value of a
trading desk's holdings, dividend income, and interest income and expense.
Covered trading activity means trading conducted by a trading desk under
§ 255.4, § 255.5, § 255.6(a), or § 255.6(b). A banking entity may include in its
covered trading activity trading conducted under § 255.3(d), § 255.6(c),
§ 255.6(d), or § 255.6(e).
Measurement frequency means the frequency with which a particular
quantitative metric must be calculated and recorded.
Trading day means a calendar day on which a trading desk is open for
trading.
III. Reporting and Recordkeeping
a. Scope of Required Reporting
1. Quantitative measurements. Each banking entity made subject
to this appendix by § 255.20 must furnish the following quantitative
measurements, as applicable, for each trading desk of the banking entity engaged
in covered trading activities and calculate these quantitative measurements in
accordance with this appendix:
i. Internal Limits and Usage;
ii. Value-at-Risk;
iii. Comprehensive Profit and Loss Attribution;
iv. Positions; and
v. Transaction Volumes.
2. Trading desk information. Each banking entity made subject to
this appendix by § 255.20 must provide certain descriptive information, as
further described in this appendix, regarding each trading desk engaged in
covered trading activities.
3. Quantitative measurements identifying information. Each
banking entity made subject to this appendix by § 255.20 must provide certain
identifying and descriptive information, as further described in this appendix,
regarding its quantitative measurements.
4. Narrative statement. Each banking entity made subject to this
appendix by § 255.20 may provide an optional narrative statement, as further
described in this appendix.
5. File identifying information. Each banking entity made
subject to this appendix by § 255.20 must provide file identifying information
in each submission to the SEC pursuant to this appendix, including the name of
the banking entity, the RSSD ID assigned to the top-tier banking entity by the
Board, and identification of the reporting period and creation date and
time.
b. Trading Desk Information
1. Each banking entity must provide descriptive information regarding each
trading desk engaged in covered trading activities, including:
i. Name of the trading desk used internally by the banking entity and a unique
identification label for the trading desk;
ii. Identification of each type of covered trading activity in which the trading
desk is engaged;
iii. Brief description of the general strategy of the trading desk;
v. A list identifying each Agency receiving the submission of the trading
desk;
2. Indication of whether each calendar date is a trading day or not a trading day
for the trading desk; and
3. Currency reported and daily currency conversion rate.
c. Quantitative Measurements Identifying Information
Each banking entity must provide the following information regarding the
quantitative measurements:
1. An Internal Limits Information Schedule that provides identifying and
descriptive information for each limit reported pursuant to the Internal Limits
and Usage quantitative measurement, including the name of the limit, a unique
identification label for the limit, a description of the limit, the unit of
measurement for the limit, the type of limit, and identification of the
corresponding risk factor attribution in the particular case that the limit type
is a limit on a risk factor sensitivity and profit and loss attribution to the
same risk factor is reported; and
2. A Risk Factor Attribution Information Schedule that provides identifying and
descriptive information for each risk factor attribution reported pursuant to
the Comprehensive Profit and Loss Attribution quantitative measurement,
including the name of the risk factor or other factor, a unique identification
label for the risk factor or other factor, a description of the risk factor or
other factor, and the risk factor or other factor's change unit.
d. Narrative Statement
Each banking entity made subject to this appendix by § 255.20 may
submit in a separate electronic document a Narrative Statement to the SEC with
any information the banking entity views as relevant for assessing the
information reported. The Narrative Statement may include further description of
or changes to calculation methods, identification of material events,
description of and reasons for changes in the banking entity's trading desk
structure or trading desk strategies, and when any such changes occurred.
e. Frequency and Method of Required Calculation and Reporting
A banking entity must calculate any applicable quantitative measurement for each
trading day. A banking entity must report the Trading Desk Information, the
Quantitative Measurements Identifying Information, and each applicable
quantitative measurement electronically to the SEC on the reporting schedule
established in § 255.20 unless otherwise requested by the SEC. A banking entity
must report the Trading Desk Information, the Quantitative Measurements
Identifying Information, and each applicable quantitative measurement to the SEC
in accordance with the XML Schema specified and published on the SEC's
website.
f. Recordkeeping
A banking entity must, for any quantitative measurement
furnished to the SEC pursuant to this appendix and § 255.20(d), create and
maintain records documenting the preparation and content of these reports, as
well as such information as is necessary to permit the SEC to verify the
accuracy of such reports, for a period of five years from the end of the
calendar year for which the measurement was taken. A banking entity must retain
the Narrative Statement, the Trading Desk Information, and the Quantitative
Measurements Identifying Information for a period of five years from the end of
the calendar year for which the information was reported to the SEC.
IV. Quantitative Measurements
a. Risk-Management Measurements
1. INTERNAL LIMITES AND USAGE
i. Description: For purposes of this appendix, Internal
Limits are the constraints that define the amount of risk and the positions that
a trading desk is permitted to take at a point in time, as defined by the
banking entity for a specific trading desk. Usage represents the value of the
trading desk's risk or positions that are accounted for by the current activity
of the desk. Internal limits and their usage are key compliance and risk
management tools used to control and monitor risk taking and include, but are
not limited to, the limits set out in §§ 255.4 and 255.5. A trading desk's risk
limits, commonly including a limit on “Value-at-Risk,” are useful in the broader
context of the trading desk's overall activities, particularly for the market
making activities under § 255.4(b) and hedging activity under § 255.5.
Accordingly, the limits required under §§ 255.4(b)(2)(iii)(C) and
255.5(b)(1)(i)(A) must meet the applicable requirements under
§§ 255.4(b)(2)(iii)(C) and 255.5(b)(1)(i)(A) and also must include appropriate
metrics for the trading desk limits including, at a minimum, “Value-at-Risk”
except to the extent the “Value-at-Risk” metric is demonstrably ineffective for
measuring and monitoring the risks of a trading desk based on the types of
positions traded by, and risk exposures of, that desk.
A. A banking entity must provide the following information for
each limit reported pursuant to this quantitative measurement: The unique
identification label for the limit reported in the Internal Limits Information
Schedule, the limit size (distinguishing between an upper and a lower limit),
and the value of usage of the limit.
ii. Calculation Period: One trading day.
iii. Measurement Frequency: Daily.
iv. Applicability: All trading desks engaged in covered trading
activities.
2. VALUE-AT-RISK
i. Description: For purposes of this appendix,
Value-at-Risk (“VaR”) is the measurement of the risk of future financial loss in
the value of a trading desk's aggregated positions at the ninety-nine percent
confidence level over a one-day period, based on current market conditions..
ii. Calculation Period: One trading day.
iii. Measurement Frequency: Daily.
iv. Applicability: All trading desks engaged in covered trading
activities.
b. Source-of-Revenue Measurements
1. COMPREHENSIVE PROFIT AND LOSS ATTRIBUTION
i. Description: For purposes of this appendix,
Comprehensive Profit and Loss Attribution is an analysis that attributes the
daily fluctuation in the value of a trading desk's positions to various sources.
First, the daily profit and loss of the aggregated positions is divided into two
categories: (i) Profit and loss attributable to a trading desk's existing
positions that were also positions held by the trading desk as of the end of the
prior day (“existing positions”); and (ii) profit and loss attributable to new
positions resulting from the current day's trading activity (“new
positions”).
A. The comprehensive profit and loss associated with existing
positions must reflect changes in the value of these positions on the applicable
day. The comprehensive profit and loss from existing positions must be further
attributed, as applicable, to (i) changes in the specific risk factors and other
factors that are monitored and managed as part of the trading desk's overall
risk management policies and procedures; and (ii) any other applicable elements,
such as cash flows, carry, changes in reserves, and the correction,
cancellation, or exercise of a trade.
B. For the attribution of comprehensive profit and loss from
existing positions to specific risk factors and other factors, a banking entity
must provide the following information for the factors that explain the
preponderance of the profit or loss changes due to risk factor changes: The
unique identification label for the risk factor or other factor listed in the
Risk Factor Attribution Information Schedule, and the profit or loss due to the
risk factor or other factor change.
C. The comprehensive profit and loss attributed to new positions
must reflect commissions and fee income or expense and market gains or losses
associated with transactions executed on the applicable day. New positions
include purchases and sales of financial instruments and other
assets/liabilities and negotiated amendments to existing positions. The
comprehensive profit and loss from new positions may be reported in the
aggregate and does not need to be further attributed to specific sources.
D. The portion of comprehensive profit and loss from existing
positions that is not attributed to changes in specific risk factors and other
factors must be allocated to a residual category. Significant unexplained profit
and loss must be escalated for further investigation and analysis.
ii. Calculation Period: One trading day.
iii. Measurement Frequency: Daily.
iv. Applicability: All trading desks engaged in covered trading
activities.
c. Positions and Transaction Volumes Measurements
1. POSITIONS
i. Description: For purposes of this appendix, Positions is the value of
securities and derivatives positions managed by the trading desk. For purposes
of the Positions quantitative measurement, do not include in the Positions
calculation for “securities” those securities that are also “derivatives,” as
those terms are defined under subpart A; instead, report those securities that
are also derivatives as “derivatives.” [1] A banking entity must separately report the trading desk's
market value of long securities positions, short securities positions,
derivatives receivables, and derivatives payables.
ii. Calculation Period: One trading day.
iii. Measurement Frequency: Daily.
iv. Applicability: All trading desks that rely on § 255.4(a) or (b) to
conduct underwriting activity or market-making-related activity,
respectively.
2. TRANSACTION VOLUMES
i. Description: For purposes of this appendix, Transaction Volumes
measures three exclusive categories of covered trading activity conducted by a
trading desk. A banking entity is required to report the value and number of
security and derivative transactions conducted by the trading desk with: (i)
Customers, excluding internal transactions; (ii) non-customers, excluding
internal transactions; and (iii) trading desks and other organizational units
where the transaction is booked into either the same banking entity or an
affiliated banking entity. For securities, value means gross market value. For
derivatives, value means gross notional value. For purposes of calculating the
Transaction Volumes quantitative measurement, do not include in the Transaction
Volumes calculation for “securities” those securities that are also
“derivatives,” as those terms are defined under subpart A; instead, report those
securities that are also derivatives as “derivatives.” [2] Further, for purposes of the Transaction Volumes quantitative
measurement, a customer of a trading desk that relies on § 255.4(a) to conduct
underwriting activity is a market participant identified in § 255.4(a)(7), and a
customer of a trading desk that relies on § 255.4(b) to conduct market
making-related activity is a market participant identified in § 255.4(b)(3).
ii. Calculation Period: One trading day.
iii. Measurement Frequency: Daily.
iv. Applicability: All trading desks that rely on § 255.4(a) or (b) to
conduct underwriting activity or market-making-related activity,
respectively.
[84 FR 61974, Nov. 14, 2019]