On October 9, 2018, the Financial Policy Committee published a statement from its meeting held on October 3, 2018 where it reviewed developments since June 19, 2018. The FPC continues to consider that the U.K. banking system is sufficiently robust to withstand the disruption of a "hard Brexit" and that there is no need for additional capital buffers for banks as a result. The FPC is of the view that the banking system would be able to absorb, in addition to a disorderly Brexit, further costs that might arise from trade tensions. However, the FPC is concerned about the lack of action taken by EU authorities to address the risks of disruption in the event of the U.K. leaving the EU without a deal on March 29, 2019. In particular, the FPC would like mitigating action to be taken to address the risks associated with derivatives contracts and the transfer of personal data.
Aside from the risks presented by Brexit, the FPC considers that domestic risks are still at a standard level overall. However, the FPC is concerned about the swift growth of leveraged lending and intends to: (i) assess the implications for banks in the 2018 stress test; and (ii) review the impact of the increasing role of non-bank lenders and changes in the distribution of corporate debt. The FPC has decided to maintain the U.K. countercyclical capital buffer rate at 1% and will review the rate again at its meeting on November 28, 2018.
The FPC also announced that the launch of the next biennial exploratory scenario will be delayed to September 2019 as firms and the Bank of England continue to devote resources to prepare for Brexit. The FPC's statement is available at: https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/statement/fpc/2018/financial-policy-committee-statement-october-2018.
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