| Journal Call no. | HG1302.Q37 |
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| Author | Hong Kong Monetary Authority. Banking Policy Division. |
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| Article Title | Developments in the banking sector / Banking Policy Division. |
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| Is Part Of | Quarterly bulletin / Hong Kong Monetary Authority ; no.23, May 2000, p.121-125, illus. |
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| Abstract | The operating environment for the banking sector continued to improve in the first quarter of 2000. While total loans shrank further because of continued contraction in Japanese banks' Euroyen lending activities, domestic lending in Hong Kong dollars has started to pick up in line with the recovering economy and banks' increased willingness to lend. The operating profits of local banks for the March quarter showed a notable increase compared with the same period in 1999. The recovery was helped by lower funding costs and an increase in interest-bearing assets, which enabled banks to widen their net interest margin, despite the continuing competition for residential mortgage loans. The general improvement in local banks' asset quality also led to a substantial decline in the aggregate bad debt charge. |
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