International Banking Statistics, June 2008

According to the statistics published today by the Monetary Authority of Macao, international banking business in the local banking industry continued to grow at a fast pace. As a result, the share of international assets in total banking assets increased to 83.5% from 79.8% at end-June 2007, while the share of international liabilities in total liabilities rose to 78.5% from 75.0%. Foreign currencies remained as the dominant denomination in international banking transactions. At end-June 2008, the shares of Pataca (MOP) in total international assets and total international liabilities were merely 0.5% and 2.5% respectively. Hong Kong Dollar and Other Foreign Currencies accounted for 41.1% and 58.4% of total international assets respectively. Their shares in total international liabilities were 45.9% and 51.6% respectively. International Banking Assets
At end-June 2008, total international assets increased 35.5% from a year earlier to MOP316.5 billion (USD39.4 billion). Within this total, external assets and local assets in foreign currencies increased by 31.1% and 52.6% year-on-year to MOP243.6 billion and MOP73.0 billion respectively. Placements of Macao banks with their overseas affiliates were classified as other external assets. Being a major component of international assets, other external assets grew by 7.9% over a year earlier to MOP130.0 billion. International Banking Liabilities
At end-June 2008, total international liabilities grew by 35.2% from a year earlier to MOP297.3 billion (USD37.0 billion). For the first time in the record of Macao International Banking Statistics, external liabilities displaced local liabilities in foreign currencies as the largest component of total international liabilities. The former increased by 82.2% year-on-year to MOP155.1 billion. Of this total, external deposits increased 72.8% to MOP130.1 billion as external deposits from banks jumped 422.2% to MOP55.3 billion. Local liabilities in foreign currencies edged up 5.6% to MOP142.3 billion. Breakdown of External Banking Assets and Liabilities by Region
The majorities of external assets and liabilities have been claims on and liabilities to Asia and Europe. At end-June 2008, with regard to external assets, claims on Hong Kong and Mainland China occupied respectively 30.6% and 20.1% of the total. Claims on Portugal, Germany and the Netherlands took up respective shares of 20.8%, 3.8% and 1.2%. Regarding external liabilities, those to Hong Kong and China occupied 46.9% and 10.7% of the total while liabilities to France, Portugal and Germany took up respective shares of 12.9%, 8.9% and 2.4%. The compilation of International Banking Statistics follows the methodology advocated by the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) in order to facilitate Macao SAR’s participation in the “Locational International Banking Statistics” project of the BIS.