Doubts about the health of European banks

A significant number of European institutions is convalescing. Analysts estimate that more than twenty banks will be forced to raise over 30 billion euros, following testing of resistance. These tests, which must be published in late July, are expected to account for the ability of banks to support economic and financial extremes, particularly in case of new write-downs.

Already there are signs the sector's difficulties. Yesterday, the banks have asked for more cash than expected from the European Central Bank (ECB), illustrating the fact that institutions are unable to refinance them, and cast doubt upon the state of their balance sheets.Thus, after a special term refinancing operation of the ECB, 78 banks have borrowed just over 243 billion euros.

The concern germany

The latest statements by Axel Weber have also sowed doubt. The governor of the Bundesbank, Germany's central bank – has in fact asked to German institutions to raise funds to prepare for emergencies, in case they would not pass stress tests. The German regional banks, and Monte dei Paschi and Banca Popolare di Milano in Italy, Banco Popular in Spain or the Greek settlements, Portuguese or ireland would be most vulnerable.