XN000022-1982-12-02 — Page 8

|

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1982

THIS SWITCH IN THE SPOT POSITION OF THE MONETARY SECTOR SINCE FEBRUARY WAS, HOWEVER, MATCHED BY A COMPENSATING SWITCH IN THE SECTOR'S FORWARD POSITION, STATISTICS COLLECTED FOR PRUDENTIAL SUPERVISION PURPOSES BY THE COMMISSIONER OF BANKING AND OF DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES SHOW THAT, WHILE THE SECTOR'S NET SPOT FOREIGN CURRENCY POSITION SHIFTED FROM NET ASSETS OF $2.3 BN AT THE END OF FEBRUARY TO NET LIABILITIES OF $15.8 BN AT THE END OF OCTOBER (THESE FIGURES DIFFER SLIGHTLY FROM THOSE IN THE PRECEDING PARAGRAPH BECAUSE OF MINOR DIFFERENCES OF DEFINITION), NET FORWARD FOREIGN CURRENCY ASSETS INCREASED FROM $15.5 BN TO $36.5 BN.

BALANCE SHEET RATIOS

THE AVERAGE LIQUIDITY RATIO (AS DEFINED IN S. 18 OF THE BANKING ORDINANCE) FOR ALL BANKS IN HONG KONG DECLINED MARGINALLY IN OCTOBER TO 47.5 PER CENT FROM 47.8 PER CENT IN SEPTEMBER. THE RATIO OF THEIR LOANS FOR USE IN HONG KONG TO THEIR DEPOSITS FELL TO 72.1 PER CENT AT THE END OF OCTOBER FROM 73.1 PER CENT AT THE END OF SEPTEMBER.

THE AVERAGE LIQUIDITY RATIO (AS DEFINED IN S. 24A OF THE DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES ORDINANCE) FOR ALL DEPOSIT-TAK ING COMPANIES GREW TO 56.5 PER CENT IN OCTOBER FROM 53.7 PER CENT IN SEPTEMBER. THE RATIO OF THEIR LOANS FOR USE IN HONG KONG TO THE IR DEPOSITS REMAINED VIRTUALLY STABLE AT 112.8 PER CENT.

NUMBER OF REPORTING INSTITUTIONS

THE NUMBER OF REPORTING LICENSED BANKS, LICENSED DEPOSIT- TAKING COMPANIES AND REGISTERED DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES IN OCTOBER REMAINED UNCHANGED AT 125, 16 AND 345 RESPECTIVELY.

18