
Accounting and regulatory issues
Products like an IRS are shown as off-balance sheet items as there is
an exchange of flows but no actual loan or deposit is made between
the two counterparties.
As far as profit-and-loss treatment is concerned the profit and loss
on trading should be realised immediately. The profit or loss on a
hedge should take place simultaneously with the profit or loss on the
item being hedged.
There are various accountancy standards around the world that
require banks to disclose information on interest rate risk, currency,
liquidity, maturity, information on fair values and the effects of hedge
accounting as described ...