Back in the US of A, the feds have decided the results of the stress tests are not to be released on the May 4 deadline as promised. One is reminded of the pathetic delays of the Bush administration’s report on WMDs in Iraq. What could be so sensitive in the stress tests results that the public, who funded the tests, can’t be apprised of?

This from Bloomberg:

The Federal Reserve will postpone the release of stress tests on the biggest U.S. banks while executives debate preliminary findings with examiners, according to government and industry officials.

The results, originally scheduled for publication on May 4, now may not be revealed until toward the end of next week, said the people, who declined to be identified. A new release date may be announced as soon as tomorrow, they said.

Regulators and bank executives are concerned about how the disclosure is handled because weaker institutions could suffer a collapse in their stock prices.

“Everybody understands they’ve got a tiger by the tail here,” said Mark Tenhundfeld, a senior vice president at the American Bankers’ Association in Washington. “If they don’t let him go gently, there will be a lot of mauling going on.”