Coronavirus: Debt moratoria could boost Italian banks

Bankers say state guarantees to support payment holidays could prevent loan defaults.

A mask is left in a puddle in Piazza del Duomo, Florence, as Italy battles a coronavirus outbreak

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The announcement of an Italy-wide suspension on debt repayments has triggered new concern about Italian banks’ revenues and capital, including whether they will need to reclassify borrowers as higher-risk.

On Tuesday, the morning after Italy announced a national quarantine, deputy economy minister Laura Castelli told local radio station that a payment holiday would apply to residential mortgage borrowers throughout the country.

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