IMF economist gives thumbs up to Italian banks

(ANSA) - Washington, April 9 - Italian banks received a strong endorsement Wednesday from the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) representative to the Financial Stability Board (FSB).
    The IMF's in-depth study of Italian banks last year revealed robust preparations to face slow economic recovery, said José Vinals, the director of the IMF's monetary and capital markets department. Italian lenders have done a good job of reinforcing their capital, and now await the outcome of a stress test, Vinals continued. Vinals gave credit to Italian authorities for helping to place Italian banks in a very solid position and called the current path taken by Italian authorities "positive".