Finance Channel

European stock-index futures climbed and Asian equities advanced after the majority of Europe’s banks passed stress tests, boosting confidence in the region’s financial system. U.S. futures were little changed.

Credit Suisse Group AG, BNP Paribas SA and Barclays Plc may lead banks higher after their U.S.-traded securities advanced. BP Plc might be active as the oil company was said to plan replacing its chief executive officer.

Futures on the Euro Stoxx 50 Index gained 0.8 percent to 2,740 at 7:28 a.m. in London. The U.K.’s FTSE 100 Index may open 30 points higher, according to CMC Markets. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index rose 0.4 percent to a one-month high. Futures on the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index advanced 0.2 percent.

“The stress-test results offered up no real surprises,” said James Hughes, a London-based market analyst at CMC. “The inevitable feeling that the tests were too lenient will be the dominating force today as and the unpicking of the results can begin. Despite the cynicism, the stress-test results are likely to help European indices add to gains this morning and start the week off on a positive footing.”

European regulators found that seven of the 91 banks subject to evaluations need to raise a combined 3.5 billion euros ($4.5 billion) of capital. Germany’s Hypo Real Estate Holding AG, Agricultural Bank of Greece SA and five Spanish savings banks didn’t have adequate reserves to maintain a Tier 1 capital ratio of at least 6 percent in the event of a recession and sovereign-debt crisis, lenders and regulators said after the close of European trading on July 23.

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