Archived IMT (2009.04.16)

A NEW SARBANES OXLEY for BANKS? Were hardly halfway through earnings season and the market is already mulling the US Treasurys stress test on US banks, which is due for release next weekas earnings season winds down. Treasury officials continue to keep details of the tests secret so that analysts would not draw their conclusions and release their own results to the market. The tests are will undergo a series of scenario analysis assessing banks capitalization in the event of developments in housing prices, credit/stock market volatility, consumer spending and unemployment. The most likely challenge will be whether the test results will be standardized to all banks and if so, will other banks be compelled to report under these rules. Could this be the New Sarbanes Oxley for US banks? Confusion is likely to be the name of the game and thats not necessarily bullish for stocks.