Troika optimism on Spain's banking system final assessment

The so-called "Troika", namely the European Commission (EC), the European Central Bank (ECB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), were optimistic on their conclusions on the final assessment on the Spanish banking system. The EC and the ECB said that Spain had overcome serious problems within its baking sector, local media reported on Monday. However, they warned that Spain should continue to monitor Spanish banks' solvency because they faced instability due to the crisis and fall in housing prices, whose last data were published on Monday reporting a fall of 7.9 percent in annual terms. The EC and the ECB also pointed out that financial markets were more stable nowadays than before and financing conditions of Spain's economy had improved. Spain was able to lower interest rates on bonds and treasury bills in several auctions, while the situation in the IBEX-35 stock market in Madrid was more calm than in 2012, when rumors of a sovereign bailout threatened Spain. The IBEX-35 stock market rose by 1.69 percent to 9,429 points on Monday, while the risk premium was at 224 points by closing time, considerably below the 600 point mark that surpassed last year. The EC and the ECB highlighted the importance of the recapitalization of the banking sector. This was possible thanks to a 100-billion-euro (137 billion U.S. dollars) bailout offered by the EU. The transfer of a big part of toxic assets within the Spanish baking sector to the "bad bank" (SAREB), also helped improve Spain's banking system as it helped reduce troubled debt within the sector. The two European institutions said that Spain had met those conditions required by Brussels in exchange for the loan and encouraged the country to consolidate the improvement through close monitoring of its banks. Inspectors from the "Troika" arrived in Spain on Dec. 2 on their last and fifth visit to assess the situation of Spanish banks before the bailout comes to an end on Jan. 23. The IMF also assessed the situation of Spain's banks. It said that the Spanish banking sector was stronger and healthier, but its final report will be released in February.