
APRA stress tests four major Australian banks
- The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority completed its inaugural system-wide stress test on major banks and superannuation funds.
- Major bank shares traded higher following the news that all participating institutions withstood the severe shock scenario.
- The regulator will use the test findings to amend bank liquidity requirements over the next 12 months.
The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority found close ties after testing four major lenders, including the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX:CBA).
The regulator designed the hypothetical test to simulate a liquidity shock greater than any faced in 50 years.
“APRA will use the findings to inform proposed amendments to bank liquidity requirements that we will consult on within the next 12 months,” said Australian Prudential Regulation Authority Chair John Lonsdale.
The simulated exercise required six large superannuation funds and the lenders to successfully navigate severe operational disruptions.
Following the announcement, the Commonwealth Bank of Australia share price was up at $165.31.
The regulator stated that the testing highlighted the overall resilience of the domestic financial system to sudden market shocks.
The authority noted that the growing scale of superannuation assets continues to increase the systemic importance of these funds.