Italy needs credible economic policies to halt recession: Cent...

ROME, May 21 (Reuters) - The head of Italy's banking association (ABI) said on Tuesday that European Central Bank stress tests to gauge the credit strength of the country's lenders are not a problem as long as the ECB applies the same criteria ...

* Worry over Italian political deadlock weighs on euro

Asian shares edged higher on Tuesday as hopes for political stability in Italy and expectations for global central banks to continue their growth-supporting monetary stimulus bolstered investor risk appetite.

"The acquisition will add scale to the bank's core growth markets in EMEA including the UK, Italy, Nordics, Russia and the Middle East," Credit Suisse said in a statement.

The European Central Bank will hold off quick-fire action to help Italy or other euro zone states caught up in its backwash.

There is no sign for now, however, that ordinary customers in other struggling euro zone countries like Greece, Italy or Spain are taking fright.

The European Central Bank is likely to keep interest rates unchanged Thursday even though the euro area's economy remains stuck in a recession.

Private sector deposits held at Italian banks quickened their pace of growth in January while loans to businesses continued to decline.

The European Central Bank kept interest rates steady on Thursday and is likely to eschew dramatic action to help Italy or other euro zone countries.