The finance ministers of France and Germany warned againstnew, stricter bank capital requirements, arguing they would hamper privatelending and growth prospects, Reuters reported Sept. 23.

French Finance Minister Michel Sapin said he preferred anynew Basel III rules not resulting in a rise in capital demands for banks.Similarly, German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble said, "We want toavoid specific disadvantages for European banks that may arise from BaselIII," Reuters reported.