Asia’s banks in good health (for now), says S&P

Asia’s banking industry has weathered the financial crisis in good shape, so far, according to an industry report card published by Standard Poor’s this week.

The rating agency has a stable outlook on 37 of the region’s 40 biggest banks and a positive outlook on the other three a much healthier situation than in the US, where a third of banks are on negative watch. But Asia’s banks are also facing challenges of their own.

“We do not see smooth sailing for banks in Asia-Pacific, although they have navigated well so far,” said Ryan Tsang, a credit analyst in SP’s financial services ratings group, during...