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Banks and financial institutions record core banking activities (taking deposits and making loans) on the balance sheet of the banking book, but trading book (trading and investment) pursuits are recorded off-balance-sheet. Both books are subject to considerable risk from numerous sources, but regulatory capital reserves to shield from unexpected market moves are not required for the banking book as they are for the trading book. Both of these substantial shortcomings will be addressed in the near future. The 2005 initiation of new global accounting standards will ensure that trading book derivative fair values are recorded and reported on the balance sheet while the new Basel accord, due for full implementation in 2007, will regulate the calculation and reservation of capital required for the banking book. These changes are expected to better regulate and manage the transparency of financial institutions´ activities and so prevent large scale economic disasters or deliberate corporate fraud. Institutions not compliant with the new rules will face severe financial losses, regulatory fines and possible debilitating legal action.

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Drs. Audrey Sneider is a lecturer at the Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics Stellenbosch University. She has 15 years experience in Mathematics and Informatics. She has several national and international papers and is a specialist.

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