The migration-based multi-factor copula (creditMigrationCopula
)
is similar to the creditDefaultCopula
object. As described in Credit Simulation Using Copulas,
each counterparty’s credit quality is represented by a “latent
variable” which is simulated over many scenarios. The latent
variable is composed of a series of correlated factors which are weighted
based on the counterparty’s sensitivity to each factor. The
two objects differ in how the latent variables are used for the remainder
of the analysis. Instead of thinking in terms of probability of default
for each obligor, the creditMigrationCopula
object
works with each obligor’s credit rating. Credit ratings are
issued by several companies (S&P, Moodys, and so on). Each rating
represents a level of credit quality and ratings are changed periodically
as a company’s situation improves or deteriorates.
Given enough historical data, the likelihood is calculated that
a company at a particular rating will migrate to a different rating
over some time period. For example, this table shows the probabilities
that a company with credit rating "B"
will
transition to each other rating.
While the creditDefaultCopula
object is concerned
with the 2.4% chance of default exclusively, a migration-based approach
using an creditMigrationCopula
object accounts
for all possible rating states. Given these probabilities, the cut-points
are calculated for the distribution of all possible latent variable
values that correspond to each rating value.
For each scenario, the latent variable value determines the credit rating of the counterparty at the end of the time period based on these cut-points. The cut-points are set such that the probability of transitioning to each rating matches the probabilities in the provided transition table. You now have not just correlated defaults for each counterparty, but correlated rating changes across the entire range of credit ratings.
Each credit rating has a unique discount curve associated with
it. As an obligor’s credit rating falls, the obligor’s
bond cashflows become more deeply discounted and the total bond value
drops accordingly. Conversely, if an obligor’s rating improves,
the cashflows are discounted less deeply, and the bond values will
rise. After repricing the portfolio with all obligors’ new
ratings, the total portfolio value can be calculated as the sum of
the new bond values. As with the creditDefaultCopula
object,
various risk measures are calculated and reported for the creditMigrationCopula
object.
confidenceBands
| creditMigrationCopula
| getScenarios
| portfolioRisk
| riskContribution
| simulate