Counterparty Credit Risk in OTC Derivatives

48 Pages Posted: 24 Dec 2019

See all articles by Florian Balke

Florian Balke

Goethe University Frankfurt - Department of Finance

Andreas Barth

Goethe University Frankfurt - Department of Finance; Halle Institute for Economic Research; Saarland University

Arne Reichel

Goethe University Frankfurt - Department of Finance

Mark Wahrenburg

Faculty of Economics and Business Administration

Date Written: December 1, 2019

Abstract

We document how counterparty credit risk is priced in FX OTC derivatives. We employ a novel data-set of dealer-specific bid-ask quotes to analyze risk pricing using the decoupling of Swiss franc from the euro as an exogenous shock. First, the removal of the peg increased both the level of volatility and dealers' sensitivity to volatility for the FX spot prices of all currency pairs including the Swiss franc. Second, the exaggerations in Swiss francs induced dealers to price jump risks in currencies similarly pegged to the euro, e.g. the Danish krone. Finally, both effects are significantly more pronounced for riskier customers, suggesting that dealers price counterparty credit risk. Results indicate that there was a central bank-induced risk discount through credible currency pegs.

Keywords: Counterparty Credit Risk, Fixed Exchange Rate Regime, FX Swaps, Swiss Franc Decoupling Event, International Banks

JEL Classification: F33, G14, G15, G2

Suggested Citation

Balke, Florian and Barth, Andreas and Reichel, Arne and Wahrenburg, Mark, Counterparty Credit Risk in OTC Derivatives (December 1, 2019). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3498958 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3498958

Florian Balke (Contact Author)

Goethe University Frankfurt - Department of Finance ( email )

Theodor-W.-Adorno-Platz 3
Frankfurt, DE 60629
Germany

Andreas Barth

Goethe University Frankfurt - Department of Finance ( email )

Theodor-W.-Adorno-Platz 3
Frankfurt, 60629
Germany

Halle Institute for Economic Research ( email )

P.O. Box 11 03 61
Kleine Maerkerstrasse 8
D-06017 Halle, 06108
Germany

Saarland University ( email )

Stadtwald
Saarbrucken, Saarland D-66123
Germany

Arne Reichel

Goethe University Frankfurt - Department of Finance ( email )

Mertonstr. 17
Frankfurt, 60054
Germany
00496979833717 (Phone)

Mark Wahrenburg

Faculty of Economics and Business Administration ( email )

Theodor-W.-Adorno-Platz 3
Frankfurt am Main, 60323
Germany

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