According to the statistics released today by the Monetary Authority of Macao, the proportion of international business in the local banking sector increased further in the second quarter of 2011. At end-June 2011, the share of international assets in total banking assets remained unchanged at 86.9% from end-March 2011, whereas the share of international liabilities in total banking liabilities went up from 79.7% to 80.4%. Foreign currencies remained as the dominant denomination in international banking transactions. At end-June 2011, the shares of Pataca (MOP) in total international assets and total international liabilities were 0.2% and 3.7% respectively. Hong Kong Dollar (HKD) and Other Foreign Currencies (OFCs) accounted for 41.8% and 58.0% of total international assets as well as 45.8% and 50.5% of total international liabilities respectively. International Banking Assets
At end-June 2011, total international assets increased by 6.7% from three months earlier or 38.7% year-on-year to MOP539.6 billion (USD67.3 billion). Within this total, external assets expanded by 35.1% from a year earlier to MOP411.3 billion while local assets in foreign currencies soared by 51.6% to MOP128.3 billion. As a major component of international assets, external loans & deposits jumped by 38.4% over a year earlier to MOP388.6 billion. Within this total, loans to overseas banks grew markedly by 36.1% from a year earlier. International Banking Liabilities
Meanwhile, total international liabilities expanded by 7.6% quarter-to-quarter or 39.1% from a year earlier to MOP499.2 billion (USD62.3 billion). Of this total, external liabilities and local liabilities in foreign currencies amounted to MOP275.6 billion and MOP223.6 billion in respective order. Compared with a year earlier, the former grew markedly by 50.9% while the latter increased by 26.9%. Foreign currency deposits held by residents in the local banking system formed a major component of international liabilities. This type of deposits grew by 23.6% to MOP207.5 billion at end-June 2011 from MOP167.8 billion a year earlier. Breakdown of External Banking Assets and Liabilities by Region
The majority of external assets and liabilities were related to the regions of Asia and Europe. At end-June 2011, claims on Hong Kong and Mainland China occupied respectively 37.1% and 18.2% of total external assets, while claims on Portugal took up 11.9%. On external liabilities, Hong Kong and Mainland China occupied 44.8% and 25.8% of the total respectively while France and Portugal took up respective shares of 6.5% and 5.3%. The compilation of International Banking Statistics follows the methodology advocated by the Bank for International Settlements in order to facilitate Macao SAR's participation in the "Locational International Banking Statistics" project of the international organisation. For enquiry, please contact:
Research and Statistics Department, Monetary Authority of Macao
(Tel：83952532; Fax：28353042)
