Leverage ratio

Unlike leveraged alpha or the verb leverage, a concept that actually means something.

From the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision:

An underlying cause of the global financial crisis was the build-up of excessive on- and off-balance sheet leverage in the banking system. In many cases, banks built up excessive leverage while apparently maintaining strong risk-based capital ratios. At the height of the crisis, financial markets forced the banking sector to reduce its leverage in a manner that amplified downward pressures on asset prices. This deleveraging process exacerbated the feedback loop between losses, falling bank capital and shrinking credit availability.

See also

• Leverage ratio denominator

Regulatory Capital Anatomy™ The JC’s untutored thoughts on how bank capital works. →Go uptown {{{2}}} Capital Requirements Regulation: 575/2013/ (EUR Lex) | BIS publications: BIS capital requirements for bank exposures to central counterparties | leverage ratio | RWA | portfolio risk | systemic riskIndex: Click ᐅ to expand: Regulatory Capital Tell me more Sign up for our newsletter — or just get in touch: for ½ a weekly 🍺 you get to consult JC. Ask about it here.