2014 Annual Report
Published: December 2, 2014
The OFR’s third annual report highlights three specific areas of concern: (1) excessive risk-taking during an extended period of low interest rates and low volatility; (2) an increase in market fragility resulting in declining market liquidity and persistent risks of asset fire sales and runs, and (3) the migration of financial activity away from banks toward less regulated parts of the financial system. The OFR’s Financial Stability Monitor shows heightened risks to nonfinancial corporations in the United States due to relaxed lending standards, declining credit quality, and higher debt levels. The report identifies activities, such as leveraged lending and mortgage servicing, that have migrated from banks to less resilient parts of the financial system. The report also evaluates policy initiatives for promoting financial stability and described the OFR’s work to improve the quality and scope of financial data and analysis