In addition to uncertainties regarding the international situation, the volatility in Italian bank stock prices reflects the doubts and concerns that have arisen concerning asset quality, in part related to the alarmist interpretation of a simple request for information by the ECB. Tensions of this magnitude are not justified by the underlying conditions of Italian banks.
As the President of the ECB also recently stressed, non-performing loans in banks’ balance sheets were examined as part of the comprehensive assessment performed in 2014, the necessary provisions were made, and there will be no new requests to increase them or to strengthen banks’ capital.