Description: Description of new regulatory risk disclosure for private fund advisers.

Description: There are two major categories of risks that are unique in international business- currency exchange rate risk and country risk. Currency exchange rate risk includes transaction exposure, translation exposure, and economic exposure. Country risk contains political risk and economic risk. There are a few different methods to hedge currency exchange rate risk and country risk also discussed in the article. Before you decide to invest in a certain country’s market, ensure you understand the currency exchange rate and political risks associated with the investment by performing due diligence on the country’s economic, political and cultural condition.

Description: This article discusses a good way for insurance companies to calibrate economic capital (tail risk level) that is consistent with the market opinion on its risk. It also establishes a bridge between a risk neutral evaluation and a real world evaluation.

Description: Much of the push for ERM has come from regulators and rating agencies, but it is being applied in internal company decision-making as well. This paper reviews the progress made and the needs still outstanding in two key areas of application: optimal capital level for an insurer and risk-adjusted profitability of business units. The basic conclusion is that progress has been made in these areas, but more is needed. Building models is not emphasized—it will be assumed that a state-of-the art model is available. The emphasis is on using such models in decision-making.

Description: This paper reviews the Value At Risk concept, a financial risk management tool and discusses its application to insurance. Difficulties with this application are described and modifications suggested. An alternative tool, expressed as a risk adjustment to economic value, is suggested as an additional measure.

Description: The author provides an overview, from a banking perspective, of Value at Risk VAR and its use as a risk management tool. This article originally appeared in the August 1997 issue of Financial Engineering News and is reprinted with permission.