Regulator publishes risk guidance in wake of CAO mess

The China Banking Regulatory Commission issued a consultation paper urging banks to set up independent departments to tighten risk management processes — especially in regard to commodity, stock and forex markets — and report back on a regular basis. The commission said banks should also keep separate books to track their core deposit-taking and lending activities – as distinct from trading books, which should be revalued daily, the regulator said. The CBRC consultation comes after Singapore-listed China Aviation Oil (Singapore) Corp (CAO) lost US$550m this year in oil derivatives trading. The commission also said trading limits and maximum losses should be set for different categories of trading and risk.