Exchange rate risk and capital (ratio) hedge
Market risk in the Group results primarily from exchange rate risk, which stems from foreign-currency denominated equity in-
vestments in foreign Group units and the corresponding hedging positions entered into by the Group Asset/Liability
Committee. In a narrow sense, exchange rate risk denotes the risk of losses being incurred due to open foreign exchange
positions. However, exchange rate fluctuations also influence current revenues and expenses. They also affect regulatory
capital requirements for assets denominated in foreign currencies, even if they are financed in the same currency and thus do
not create an open foreign exchange position.
The Group holds material equity participations located outside of the euro area with equity denominated in the corresponding
local currency. Also, a significant share of risk-weighted assets in the Group is denominated in foreign currencies. Changes in
foreign exchange rates thus lead to changes in the consolidated capital of the Group and to changes in the total capital
requirement for credit risk as well.
From a regulatory perspective, the ECB approved a waiver for the Group which permits a reduction in the RWA\u2019s associated
with market risk. This requires that the Group follow a specific hedging strategy that allows the exchange rate risks to be
protected against potential shocks.
In order to manage exchange rate risk, RBI currently follows a stable capital ratio strategy. The goal of this hedging strategy is
to balance tier 1 capital and risk-weighted assets in all currencies according to the targeted tier 1 ratio (i.e. reduce excess capi-
tal or deficits in relation to risk-weighted assets for each currency) such that the tier 1 ratio remains stable even if foreign ex-
change rates change. The Group aims at stabilizing its capital ratio when managing exchange rate risks. Changes in foreign
exchange rates thus lead to changes in the consolidated equity amount; however, the regulatory capital requirement for credit
risks stemming from assets denominated in foreign currencies also changes correspondingly. This risk is managed on a
monthly basis in the Group Asset/Liability Committee based on historical foreign exchange volatilities, exchange rate
forecasts, and the sensitivity of the tier 1 ratio to changes in individual foreign exchange rates.
The following table shows all material open foreign exchange rate positions as of 31 December 2024 and the corresponding
values for the previous year. The figures include both trading positions as well as capital positions of the subsidiaries with
foreign currency denominated statements of financial position (short positions are shown with a negative sign and long
positions with a positive sign). Derived from the selling of the Belarus subsidiaries, the foreign exchange position in Belarusian
Ruble was closed causing the decrease of its sensitivity. The decrease on the foreign exchange sensitivities on Romanian Leu
and Ukrainian hryvnia were due to the closing of the positions in such currencies. The sensitivity in Hungarian Forint decreased
due to a change in the position for hedging purposes.