What do lifetime expected credit losses account for?

Lifetime expected credit losses are designed to reflect the entirety of potential credit losses that a financial instrument could incur over its entire lifetime. This comprehensive view encompasses all possible default events that could occur, rather than just limiting the assessment to current market conditions, past defaults, or specific economic downturns.

By considering all potential defaults over the life of a financial instrument, this approach ensures that the accounting reflects a more accurate picture of credit risk. It captures factors such as changes in credit quality, economic forecasts, and borrower-specific information that may influence the likelihood of default. This is particularly important in a dynamic economic environment, where risks can evolve over time.

Other options focus on narrower aspects of credit loss assessment, such as losses driven only by current conditions or past events, which do not adequately capture the full scope of risk across the financial instrument's lifespan. Recognizing losses strictly from economic downturns also falls short, as credit losses can arise from various factors that may not be tied simply to economic conditions.