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UK banks told to raise another $38B

[March 27, 2013]  LONDON (AP) -- Britain's new banking regulator recommended Wednesday that the nation's lenders increase their capital buffers by 25 billion pounds ($37.9 billion) by the end of the year to ensure they can cover potential losses and keep lending in the event of future crises.

The Financial Policy Committee said banks need the money is needed as a buffer against potential costs of high-risk loans, including those in the eurozone, and of resolving scandals - such as the mis-selling of insurance products, which has forced British banks to pay billions in compensation to customers. The banks also need greater rainy-day funds in case they have to write down the value of their investments.

Some banks already have adequate resources and those that don't should either sell shares or restructure their businesses. The aim is to have capital equal to at least 7 percent of higher-risk assets by the end of this year, the committee said. It did not name any banks, or single out the ones that need more capital.

The committee, which is part of the Bank of England, also recommended applying higher capital requirements to any major British bank or building society with exposure to particularly weak investments.

The committee was set up to regulate the health of the banks following the 2008 financial crisis.

[Associated Press]

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