US banks face $150bn capital gap

The leading 35 US banks will be between $100bn and $150bn short of equity capital when the Basel III regulations come into force, the FT reports.

According to Barclays Capital, the six biggest banks will have the most significant shortfall.

The Basel III reforms will tighten the definition of what counts as tier one capital; and will force banks to increase the risk adjustment for big parts of their business.