Determining the Optimal Ratio of Liquidity in Iraqi Commercial Banks for period (2005-2013)

applied research using Iraqi Commercial Banks as a sample study

Abstract

  This study  focused on a fundamental issue which was represented by ability of Iraqi central bank in facing the difficulty of determining  the optimal ratio of liquidity in the Iraqi banks in terms of the balancing between its obligations to the depositors and borrowers, and liquidate their funds on one hand and the risks on the other hand.the search aimed  for achieving the goals which represented by identifying the possibility of Iraqi banks to apply the regulations rules and  instructions  issued by central bank  of  Iraq in determining  ratio  of  liquidity and  its  appropriate with Iraqi  banks  action to implement  a  reasonable  profit to  measure  and analyze  the legal liquidity ratio and employ these funds  for the purpose of investing in profitable fields and then determine the size of the  risks.  to prove  this  research a sample was selected in a number of private Iraqi banks which are(Middle East Investment Bank, Commercial Bank of Iraq, North Bank for Finance and Investment, Al-Ahli Bank of Iraq, Gulf Commercial Bank,Bank of Babylon).By  reviewing  the annual  reports  of  Iraqi banks research sample for  the period (2005- 2013)  the percentages has been extracted for each of legal liquidity ratio (liquid / liquid liabilities assets), liquidity ratio (cash / deposits), the ratio of profitability (net income / total assets), the ratio of the employment of funds (investments / total deposits) and the ratio of liquidity risk (total cash / total assets). Based on rated analytical results it has been reaching to an important number of conclusions which are:                                                                 

The contribution of the Iraqi Central Bank supervision in the development and growth of financial indicators, particularly the ratio of legal liquidity index and its suitability to the work  of  banks if the ratio was calculated according to the terms of a unified model contains vocabulary of numerator and denominator ratio by Iraqi banks (search sample).Then weset a  number of recommendations which are :It is necessary for effective contribution of Iraqi central bank role to monitor the liquidity level in the Iraqi banks by developing a unified model to calculate the legal liquidity ratio in line with  regulations rules and instructions issued by the Central Bank of Iraq and with the international standards and their suitability for banking.