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Rock risks 'were not foreseeable' Rock risks 'were not foreseeable'
(20 minutes later)
Top executives of the Northern Rock bank have denied doing anything wrong in the run-up to the bank's recent near-collapse.Top executives of the Northern Rock bank have denied doing anything wrong in the run-up to the bank's recent near-collapse.
The bank's chief executive, Adam Applegarth, told MPs that nothing could have been done to reduce the risks the bank was facing.The bank's chief executive, Adam Applegarth, told MPs that nothing could have been done to reduce the risks the bank was facing.
He told the Treasury Select Committee that the bank had planned how it would cope with a 40% fall in house prices.He told the Treasury Select Committee that the bank had planned how it would cope with a 40% fall in house prices.
But it had not planned how to respond if its ability to borrow dried up.But it had not planned how to respond if its ability to borrow dried up.
"What wasn't stress-tested was the event deemed implausible - of the global markets freezing up overnight," he said."What wasn't stress-tested was the event deemed implausible - of the global markets freezing up overnight," he said.
"The rapid and long-lasting closure of the global markets was not stress-tested," he added."The rapid and long-lasting closure of the global markets was not stress-tested," he added.
Mr Applegarth said the bank had started in March to slow down its lending.Mr Applegarth said the bank had started in March to slow down its lending.
But asked if he could have taken any action to mitigate the fundamental risk of the Northern Rock's business model, he replied, "No."But asked if he could have taken any action to mitigate the fundamental risk of the Northern Rock's business model, he replied, "No."
Business modelBusiness model
Four senior executives of the Northern Rock are being questioned by members of the committee following the bank's recent near-collapse.Four senior executives of the Northern Rock are being questioned by members of the committee following the bank's recent near-collapse.
The Northern Rock chairman, Matt Ridley, said it had been hit by "wholly unexpected" events and he defended the way he and his colleagues had been running the bank.The Northern Rock chairman, Matt Ridley, said it had been hit by "wholly unexpected" events and he defended the way he and his colleagues had been running the bank.
"The Northern Rock business model was a good one - [but] that proved unable to cope with an unexpected seizure of the money markets in August," he explained."The Northern Rock business model was a good one - [but] that proved unable to cope with an unexpected seizure of the money markets in August," he explained.
"We were subject to a completely unprecedented and unpredictable closure of the world credit markets," he added."We were subject to a completely unprecedented and unpredictable closure of the world credit markets," he added.
Mr Ridley defended the bank's policy of borrowing large sums of money on the financial markets to lend as mortgages to house buyers, and denied an earlier suggestion from the head of the Financial Services Authority that the bank was running an "extreme business model".Mr Ridley defended the bank's policy of borrowing large sums of money on the financial markets to lend as mortgages to house buyers, and denied an earlier suggestion from the head of the Financial Services Authority that the bank was running an "extreme business model".
Most of the borrowing was long-term - "longer than the average life of mortgages on our books," said Mr Ridley.Most of the borrowing was long-term - "longer than the average life of mortgages on our books," said Mr Ridley.
But Mr Ridley said he would resign if other directors asked him to do so.But Mr Ridley said he would resign if other directors asked him to do so.
Assessing optionsAssessing options
Northern Rock's bid last month for emergency funding resulted in a run on the bank, with thousands of savers queuing to withdraw money totalling more than £2bn - or 8% of the amount of deposits it held.Northern Rock's bid last month for emergency funding resulted in a run on the bank, with thousands of savers queuing to withdraw money totalling more than £2bn - or 8% of the amount of deposits it held.
In terms of the probability of this organisation getting into difficulty, we had it as a low probability Hector SantsFinancial Services Authority Northern Rock timeline FSA boss faces MPs King defends bank role What severely hammered us was the retail run Adam Applegarth Northern Rock timeline FSA boss faces MPs King defends bank role
"What severely hammered us was the retail run," said Mr Applegarth."What severely hammered us was the retail run," said Mr Applegarth.
He blamed the BBC's exclusive report on 13 September, that the bank would need to seek emergency funding from the Bank of England, for scaring his customers.He blamed the BBC's exclusive report on 13 September, that the bank would need to seek emergency funding from the Bank of England, for scaring his customers.
"It caused us immense difficulties," he said"It caused us immense difficulties," he said
As a result of the subsequent images of panicking customers outside its branches, the Northern Rock brand has now been irredeemably damaged.As a result of the subsequent images of panicking customers outside its branches, the Northern Rock brand has now been irredeemably damaged.
The bank, whose market value has plunged by more than 60% since the start of the crisis, is now assessing options including a sale, a break-up and closing to new business.The bank, whose market value has plunged by more than 60% since the start of the crisis, is now assessing options including a sale, a break-up and closing to new business.
On Monday, it said it was continuing talks with a number of "potentially interested" suitors, but that discussions were at a very early stage.On Monday, it said it was continuing talks with a number of "potentially interested" suitors, but that discussions were at a very early stage.
Its statement came after a consortium led by Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group put forward plans to take control of the bank.Its statement came after a consortium led by Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group put forward plans to take control of the bank.
Mr Ridley confirmed that the Northern Rock had now borrowed £13bn from the bank of England, but declined to guess how much more it might need. Mr Ridley confirmed that the Northern Rock had now borrowed £13bn from the Bank of England, but declined to guess how much more it might need.