The economist 09-4-24(2)

经济学人

The principles for letting a bank repay bail-out cash are clear. Its capital position must remain strong: capable of at least maintaining its lending book, absorbing shocks, and commanding enough confidence to allow borrowing without state guarantees. It should repay taxpayers by selling new shares or retaining profits. For a bank to boost capital by withdrawing credit or exiting important business lines would be counterproductive. It must have healthy profits and sane risk and pay policies. European banks, such as HSBC, that have got there without state support have rightly been applauded.

能让一家银行有能力偿还救济资金的条件很明显。那便是它的资本状况务必尚需雄厚：至少有能力维持放贷、缓解冲击及有足够的信心无需国家担保获得借款。银行务必通过出售新股或保住盈利来偿还纳税人的钱。而如果银行靠降低信誉或取消重要业务来募集资金的话只会适得其反。银行务必要有相当的利润及健全的风险和薪资政策。欧洲银行，如汇丰银行，就没向国家寻求支持而被连连称赞。

Does Goldman pass these tests too? Although it has just reported bumper earnings (see article), their quality was mixed, and relied too much on volatile trading. It has a slug of hard-to-value assets and its borrowing costs have yet to return to normal; it is still using the government’s

debt-guarantee scheme. But its regulatory capital ratios are solid, half as strong again as those of America’s ten biggest banks overall. When the Treasury completes its stress tests to evaluate the largest banks soon, Goldman should pass with flying colors.

高盛能经得起这些考验吗？虽然据最新报道高盛获得了不错收益（见全文）,但这些收益的质量参差不齐，过多依赖于不稳定交易。高盛拥有小部分难估价资产并且它的借款费用又回到了原样；高盛仍沿用政府的债务担保方案。但是它的法定资本比率高，相当于美国前十大银行总体比率的二分之一。一等财政部完成对十大银行评估的压力测试，高盛将胜利通过。

No bank is an island 没有哪家银行能独善其身

Yet the crisis has shown that banks do not exist in isolation. Some say that by letting lenders repay the state, those unable to do so would face runs on their shares and junior debt. This cannot be made the sole consideration—the banking system should not walk at the pace of its weakest members. However