The Bitcoin as a Virtual Commodity: Empirical Evidence and Implications

The present work investigates the impact on financial intermediation of distributed ledger technology (DLT), which is usually associated with the blockchain technology and is at the base of the cryptocurrencies' development. "Bitcoin" is the expression of its main application since it was the first new currency that gained popularity some years after its release date and it is still the major cryptocurrency in the market. For this reason, the present analysis is focused on studying its price determination, which seems to be still almost unpredictable. We carry out an empirical analysis based on a cost of production model, trying to detect whether the Bitcoin price could be justified by and connected to the profits and costs associated with the mining effort. We construct a sample model, composed of the hardware devices employed in the mining process. After collecting the technical information required and computing a cost and a profit function for each period, an implied price for the Bitcoin value is derived. The interconnection between this price and the historical one is analyzed, adopting a Vector Autoregression (VAR) model. Our main results put on evidence that there aren't ultimate drivers for Bitcoin price; probably many factors should be expressed and studied at the same time, taking into account their variability and different relevance over time. It seems that the historical price fluctuated around the model (or implied) price until 2017, when the Bitcoin price significantly increased. During the last months of 2018, the prices seem to converge again, following a common path. In detail, we focus on the time window in which Bitcoin experienced its higher price volatility; the results suggest that it is disconnected from the one predicted by the model. These findings may depend on the particular features of the new cryptocurrencies, which have not been completely understood yet. In our opinion, there is not enough knowledge on cryptocurrencies to assert that Bitcoin price is (or is not) based on the profit and cost derived by the mining process, but these intrinsic characteristics must be considered, including other possible Bitcoin price drivers

Managing Banking Risk with the Risk Appetite Framework: a Quantitative Model for the Italian Banking System.

We analyse the structural aspects of the banking Risk Appetite Framework (RAF), providing an operational application in the light of the detailed recommendations of the banking supervisors. We develop a quantitative approach that could be used to adapt to the requirements of these regulations and that might be useful for management purposes. This approach is empirically applied to the balance sheets of the Italian banking system. Our findings show that the Italian banks are generally underexposed in terms of credit risk and market risk, so there is room for shifting the risk profiles towards higher thresholds with a view to improving the credit institutions’ profitability while keeping their RAF consistent with the regulatory bodies’ requirements. The quantitative model can be applied effectively to all banks, for different types of risk, making the necessary adjustments according to the particular features of the profile being examined

Liquidity risk and interest rate risk on banks: are they related?

The present study aims at ascertaining whether a relationship exists between the liquidity risk and the interest rate risk of credit institutions. By analysing the balance sheet of a small Italian bank during the years 2009 and 2010, we outlined its liquidity profile, the variables that influenced its dynamics and their effects on the bank’s global management, with particular attention to the interest margin and the interest rate risk in the banking book. We would like to fill a gap identified in the literature, shedding light on how a set of decisions designed mainly to reduce the liquidity risk and comply with the new parameters established by the Basel III Framework enables a more effective management of the regulatory capital and helps the bank to achieve a solid balance between profitability and solvency. Our main findings demonstrate that the bank succeeded in modifying its liquidity profile in order to comply with the incoming constraints imposed by the Basel III framework; the actions taken to reduce the liquidity risk also lowered its interest margin, but also enabled the bank to reduce the amount of capital absorbed by the interest rate risk, giving rise to a globally positive effect

Managing Banking Risk with the Risk Appetite Framework: a Quantitative Model for the Italian Banking System.

We analyse the structural aspects of the banking Risk Appetite Framework (RAF), providing an operational application in the light of the detailed recommendations of the banking supervisors. We develop a quantitative approach that could be used to adapt to the requirements of these regulations and that might be useful for management purposes. This approach is empirically applied to the balance sheets of the Italian banking system. Our findings show that the Italian banks are generally underexposed in terms of credit risk and market risk, so there is room for shifting the risk profiles towards higher thresholds with a view to improving the credit institutions’ profitability while keeping their RAF consistent with the regulatory bodies’ requirements. The quantitative model can be applied effectively to all banks, for different types of risk, making the necessary adjustments according to the particular features of the profile being examined

Liquidity risk and interest rate risk on banks: are they related?

The present study aims at ascertaining whether a relationship exists between the liquidity risk and the interest rate risk of credit institutions. By analysing the balance sheet of a small Italian bank during the years 2009 and 2010, we outlined its liquidity profile, the variables that influenced its dynamics and their effects on the bank’s global management, with particular attention to the interest margin and the interest rate risk in the banking book. We would like to fill a gap identified in the literature, shedding light on how a set of decisions designed mainly to reduce the liquidity risk and comply with the new parameters established by the Basel III Framework enables a more effective management of the regulatory capital and helps the bank to achieve a solid balance between profitability and solvency. Our main findings demonstrate that the bank succeeded in modifying its liquidity profile in order to comply with the incoming constraints imposed by the Basel III framework; the actions taken to reduce the liquidity risk also lowered its interest margin, but also enabled the bank to reduce the amount of capital absorbed by the interest rate risk, giving rise to a globally positive effect

The natural wood regime in rivers

International audienc

Association of kidney disease measures with risk of renal function worsening in patients with type 1 diabetes

Background: Albuminuria has been classically considered a marker of kidney damage progression in diabetic patients and it is routinely assessed to monitor kidney function. However, the role of a mild GFR reduction on the development of stage 653 CKD has been less explored in type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) patients. Aim of the present study was to evaluate the prognostic role of kidney disease measures, namely albuminuria and reduced GFR, on the development of stage 653 CKD in a large cohort of patients affected by T1DM. Methods: A total of 4284 patients affected by T1DM followed-up at 76 diabetes centers participating to the Italian Association of Clinical Diabetologists (Associazione Medici Diabetologi, AMD) initiative constitutes the study population. Urinary albumin excretion (ACR) and estimated GFR (eGFR) were retrieved and analyzed. The incidence of stage 653 CKD (eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2) or eGFR reduction > 30% from baseline was evaluated. Results: The mean estimated GFR was 98 \ub1 17 mL/min/1.73m2 and the proportion of patients with albuminuria was 15.3% (n = 654) at baseline. About 8% (n = 337) of patients developed one of the two renal endpoints during the 4-year follow-up period. Age, albuminuria (micro or macro) and baseline eGFR < 90 ml/min/m2 were independent risk factors for stage 653 CKD and renal function worsening. When compared to patients with eGFR > 90 ml/min/1.73m2 and normoalbuminuria, those with albuminuria at baseline had a 1.69 greater risk of reaching stage 3 CKD, while patients with mild eGFR reduction (i.e. eGFR between 90 and 60 mL/min/1.73 m2) show a 3.81 greater risk that rose to 8.24 for those patients with albuminuria and mild eGFR reduction at baseline. Conclusions: Albuminuria and eGFR reduction represent independent risk factors for incident stage 653 CKD in T1DM patients. The simultaneous occurrence of reduced eGFR and albuminuria have a synergistic effect on renal function worsening

CENTRALE DEI RISCHI E MERITO DI CREDITO

Una riflessione approfondita sulle logiche di impiego dei dati della Centrale dei rischi a livello di valutazione del rischio di credito appare necessaria con riferimento a due aspetti distinti. Da un lato, le caratteristiche evidenziate delle informazioni di sistema generano ricadute significative sulla funzione di costo dell\u2019intermediario. Il processo di riduzione dell\u2019asimmetria informativa fra creditore e debitore \ue8 infatti strettamente legato alle caratteristiche del processo produttivo di trasformazione delle informazioni disponibili. E\u2019 necessario pertanto procedere a un\u2019attenta scelta di convenienza tra i benefici provenienti da una migliore conoscenza dell\u2019affidato con i costi di riduzione dell\u2019asimmetria informativa. In questo senso, la Centrale dei rischi offrendo informazioni numerose, a basso costo, e ripetute nel tempo costituisce un\u2019ottima opportunit\ue0 per l\u2019intermediario per colmare parte di tale asimmetria. Dall\u2019altro lato, appare allora necessario definire con chiarezza il ruolo, i limiti e le modalit\ue0 d\u2019uso dell\u2019informativa di sistema oltre al rapporto con le altre fonti informative sull\u2019impresa affidata. Ci\uf2 richiede quindi un progressivo affinamento dei processi di valutazione della clientela e un\u2019opportuna differenziazione dei processi di acquisizione, trasformazione e impiego delle informazioni per segmenti di clientela. In questo senso, assumere decisioni di integrazione delle informazioni derivanti dalla Centrale dei rischi e sostenere alti costi di riduzione delle asimmetrie informative possono giustificarsi solo per quei segmenti di aziende che costituiscono, per l\u2019intermediario, la clientela obiettivo, e quindi, a elevato valore atteso