UPDATE 1-IMF stress tests come early for UK, German banks | Reuters
UPDATE 1-IMF stress tests come early for UK, German banks | Reuters: "team from the International Monetary Fund will ask Britain's biggest banks for detailed information this week as it assesses the health of lenders in five European countries. The IMF is checking Britain's banks before wider so-called stress tests by the European Union, three industry sources told Reuters. A separate source said the team was expected in Sweden next month or early March. The IMF said late on Tuesday it is conducting what it called 'routine' stress tests of financial systems in Britain , Sweden, the Netherlands, Germany and Luxembourg. [ID:nN18172974] The European Union has come under pressure after finding only a small capital shortfall among banks last year, just before spiraling problems at banks forced an international bail-out of the Irish government. The IMF's Financial Sector Assessment Programs, or FSAPs, were made mandatory in September for 25 'systemically ...