The market risk capital rule (12 CFR 3 Appendix B) requires a national bank with significant trading activity to measure the market risk of the debt and equity positions in its trading account. The bank must measure and hold capital for its market risk using its internal value-at-risk (VAR) model. The rule outlines quantitative requirements for a bank's internal VAR model, as well as qualitative requirements for the bank's management of market risk. The rule applies to a national bank that meets either of the following two criteria:

• The sum of the bank's trading assets and liabilities is at least 10 percent of total assets, or
• The sum of the bank's trading assets and liabilities exceeds $1 billion.

The market risk capital rule also provides the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) with flexibility to exempt a bank that meets either of the two criteria as a consequence of accounting, operational, or similar considerations and the OCC determines that such an exemption is consistent with safe and sound banking practices. Notwithstanding any potential exemption from the market risk capital rules, banks with significant trading assets are expected to have adequate risk management and financial controls and practices that allow bank management to determine reliable fair value measurements; identify, measure, monitor, and control the associated risks; and, ensure the bank has sufficient capital to support the risks being taken.

Current Market Risk Rules

• Regulatory Capital Rule (12 CFR 1, January 2007)
  Provides rules for capital and reserve requirements.

New Market Risk Rule References at the Bank for International Settlements (BIS)

• Revisions to the Basel II Market Risk Framework - Final Version (July 2009)
• Revisions to the Basel II Market Risk Framework - Consultative Version (July 2009)
• Proposed Revisions to the Basel II Market Risk Framework (July 2008)