IMF to issue "positive" statement on Italian banks-sources

ROME, March 26 (Reuters) - The IMF is due to issue a statement later on Tuesday of findings from an assessment of Italy's financial system conducted in January and will express a largely positive view of the banking system, two people close to the situation said.

The assessment was conducted during two regular visits to Italy in January and March by IMF inspectors under the so-called Financial Sector Assessment Programme.

"Substantially, what will be expressed is a positive assessment of the Italian banking system," one of the sources said. The statement is expected to be released at 1700 GMT, they said.

(Reporting By Giselda Vagnoni and Stefano Bernabei; editing by Naomi O'Leary)

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Keywords: ITALY IMF/