Following the results of the US Treasury “stress tests”, ten of the biggest banks it monitors will need a total of $74.6 billion in new capital, according to media reports.

Tim Geithner, US Treasury secretary, said: “These tests will help ensure that banks have a sufficient capital cushion to continue lending in a more adverse economic scenario.”

The tests suggested that losses at the top 19 banks over 2009 and 2010 would reach $600 billion if the adverse scenario materialised.

The regulators had estimated the additional equity requirement at $185 billion at end 2008, but said that actions taken by the banks had cut that sum by $110 billion.

New equity issues and asset sales are sure to follow as banks look to bolster their balance sheets, reports added.