Stress Test Recap: The Game Was Rigged

The results of the European bank stress tests are in and at first glance, the numbers look better than expected, leading some to consider whether everything's coming up roses for markets.

7 of 91 European banks failed the stress tests with an overall capital shortfall of 3.5 billion euros ($4.5 billion). Coming into the day, it was expected that 10 banks would fail.

Investor reaction was muted for a good reason: the tests were rigged! The CEBS stress tests didn't include a risk that many believe still persists: that of a sovereign default. How would these banks do if a country like Greece defaulted? Perhaps we'll never have to know, but when the game is rigged for a specific outcome, it sure is tough to trust the box score.

Image by Flickr User Swami Stream, CC 2.0

Jill Schlesinger

View all articles by Jill Schlesinger on CBS MoneyWatch »
Jill Schlesinger, CFP®, is the Emmy-nominated, Business Analyst for CBS News. She covers the economy, markets, investing and anything else with a dollar sign on TV, radio (including her nationally syndicated radio show), the web and her blog, "Jill on Money." Prior to her second career at CBS, Jill spent 14 years as the co-owner and Chief Investment Officer for an independent investment advisory firm. She began her career as a self-employed options trader on the Commodities Exchange of New York, following her graduation from Brown University.

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