“Europe’s big banks are on track to meet Basel III capital requirements within six months – five years ahead of schedule – based on the evidence of a new regulatory monitoring exercise.

“According to a report published on Wednesday by the European Banking Authority, the EU’s biggest 42 banks cut their aggregate capital shortfall with respect to the “fully loaded” 2019 Basel III requirements to €70.4bn as of December 2012.

“The number, which is €29.1bn down on the June 2012 deficit, would suggest the shortfall could be eliminated by February 2014 if that rate of capital accumulation is continued.

“The EBA monitoring exercise comes as the European Central Bank is set to kick off a landmark assessment of the quality of banks’ assets. Initiating the ECB’s new role as the eurozone’s single banking supervisor, the asset quality review is seen as a potentially powerful tool to restore investors’ dented faith in the integrity of the region’s bank balance sheets.”

***

Read full Financial Times article here