Geithner: Most of top 19 US banks have enough capital

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner indicated stress tests will show most of the 19 biggest US banks have enough capital and said those requiring further funds may get a mix of converted government preference shares and private money.

The Treasury chief, testifying at a congressional oversight panel Tuesday, said each bank needing aid after the tests would work with supervisors on the options, including tapping the $700 billion Troubled Asset Relief Program. Geithner repeatedly said regulators, not the Treasury, are taking the lead on the exams.

The remarks helped ease investors' concerns about the results of the reviews, including the risk of political interference and the prospect for stock dilutions among the 19 banks under scrutiny. Financial shares jumped, sending benchmark indexes up the most in almost two weeks.