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According to statistics published today (May 30) by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, total deposits with authorized institutions grew by 2.5% in April 2006. Of the total, Hong Kong dollar and foreign currency deposits rose by 2.3% and 2.7% respectively. Within foreign currency deposits, renminbi deposits grew by 1.1% to RMB22.7 billion yuan in April.
Total loans and advances increased by 1.7% in April, with loans for use in Hong Kong and outside Hong Kong rising by 1.4% and 3.4% respectively. Hong Kong dollar and foreign currency loans both registered an increase. As Hong Kong dollar deposits grew proportionally more than Hong Kong dollar loans, the loan-to-deposit ratio fell further to 79.2% in April.
On a seasonally adjusted basis, Hong Kong dollar M1 expanded by 2.0% in April but decreased by 4.2% from a year earlier. Unadjusted Hong Kong dollar M2 and M3 both rose by 2.2% during the month, and by 13.5% and 13.6% respectively on a year-on-year comparison.
For further enquiries, please contact:
Ying-ying Cheng, Manager (Press), at 2878 1687 or
Thomas Chan, Senior Manager (Press), at 2878 1480
Ends/Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Issued at HKT 16:49
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