Markit: world’s oldest bank under stress

The dust is still settling from the results of the Asset Quality Review and bank stress tests, but it seems clear that the catharsis European officials hoped for has not materialised. The AQR, in particular, was worthwhile and bank balance sheets are more transparent. But it doesn’t follow that Europe’s banks will now embark on a lending spree. Lack of demand remains the underlying problem, which could present a challenge for Monte dei Paschi di Siena. Meanwhile, deflation looms — a scenario, incidentally, that the stress tests didn’t consider.