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MOSCOW, June 18 Foreign currency loans can create liquidity risks for banks: if such risks increase, the Bank of Russia may tighten regulation of their issuance, according to the Central Bank materials .
According to the Central Bank, foreign currency loans in the first quarter since the beginning of the year increased by 2.5% (+294 billion in ruble equivalent). They were mainly issued to exporting companies that received foreign currency earnings and had a natural hedge against currency risks.
«Nevertheless, issuing foreign currency loans may create liquidity risks for the bank in the event of an outflow of deposits in the relevant currency,» the regulator noted.
«If risks continue to grow, the Bank of Russia may begin to apply macro-surcharges on such loans,» the Central Bank admits.
