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The loosening of liquidity rules due to come into effect on banks raises hopes among some analysts of a recovery of lending in the euro zone.
The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision announced over the weekend that it would give banks more time to meet global liquidity rules, phasing them into force from 2015.
The world's top banking regulatory body also widened what banks could hold to meet the requirement of having 30 days worth of liquid assets in case of a crisis.
The rules are aimed at improving the banking sector's ability to survive future financial crises, but since they were first proposed in 2010 banks have argued they were too tight and there were concerns they would dampen lending and economic growth.
Originally banks would have had to hold essentially cash, central bank deposits and high-rated government and corporate bonds to meet the so-called liquidity coverage ratio.
Not only would this tie up funds, being forced to hold large amounts of these low-yielding assets would likely prompt banks to make up for lost income by charging higher interest on loans to companies.
"It was already having an impact on lending and the business model of banks," said Thomas Rocafull, director of financial services at Sia Partners consulting firm in Paris.
But allowing banks to use some stocks and lower-rated corporate debt in the calculation of the liquidity coverage ratio, as well as relaxed assumptions about how much funds would flow out of banks during a crisis, should provide banks with considerable flexibility to meet the rules.
US investment bank Morgan Stanley called the changes "constructive, particularly for EU banks".
It said the changes to the liquidity rule, alongside other measures, "supports our thesis that the most pernicious phase of deleveraging is behind us".
The bank noted that most banks have already met the original liquidity rules according to data from the Bank of International Settlements and that "this could help reduce the drag from low yielding reserves and put some to work".
Morgan Stanley said it did not expect the change to the liquidity rule to translate quickly into a strong credit impulse in the euro zone given the weak economy and continued uncertainty about sovereign finances, but that it was nevertheless a step in the right direction.
But London-based Capital Economics said it believed the changes to the liquidity rules would not have any major economic impact.


Easing in liquidity rules raises banks' hope

Business

Banking & Finance

More time for lenders to meet crisis rules increases prospects of euro lending boost


Easing in liquidity rules raises banks' hope

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}More time for lenders to meet crisis rules increases prospects of euro lending boost

More time for lenders to meet crisis rules increases prospects of euro lending boost