The Bank of England is planning to ease capital rules for high street banks for the first time in a decade, marking the latest attempt to loosen regulations designed to protect the UK economy in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis.

The central bank has proposed lowering capital requirements related to risk weighted assets, by one percentage point to about 13%, reducing the amount lenders must hold in reserve. The move is designed to make it easier to lend to households and businesses.

Capital requirements act as a financial cushion against risky lending and investments on bank balance sheets. Swiss prosecutors file charges against Credit Suisse and UBS over ‘tuna bonds’ scandal Read more

It came as fresh stress tests showed that the UK’s seven largest banks – Barclays, Lloyds Ban

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