Annual events drive lending
- Details
- Category: Economic Releases
- Created: 14 December 2015
| Banking Sector Developments May 2015 |
||||
| May 15 | Apr 15 | Mar 15 | Feb 15 | |
| Deposit rate (%) * |
2.37 | 2.34 | 2.32 | 2.28 |
| Lending rate (%) * |
8.32 | 8.27 | 8.33 | 8.46 |
| Total Deposits (T$m) |
365.4 | 363.2 | 360.9 | 365.0 |
| Total Lending (T$m) | 411.9 | 408.4 | 405.6 | 402.3 |
| New commitments (T$m) | 11.0 | 7.6 | 16.9 | 17.2 |
| Broad Money (T$m) | 389.8 | 385.0 | 379.6 | 379.7 |
| * Weighted Average calculated as a function of interest rate and volume of deposits and loans | ||||
Annual events drive lending
Lending
Total lending rose over the month by 0.9%, driven mainly by an increase in household lending. Increase in household lending also contributes to a 7.7% rise in annual total lending. These increases coincide with a 35.2 basis points decline in weighted average lending rates over the year. The increase in lending supports economic activities in the Kingdom, underpinned by annual churches conferences, special Sundays (Children Sunday, Father’s Day & Mother’s Day) and preparations for the coronation.
Business lending
Bank lending to businesses increased slightly over the month by 0.8% despite a 4.2 basis points rise in weighted lending rate to businesses. New business loan commitments rose over the month by 46% to $3.7 million, mainly to distribution, manufacturing, agricultural, professional & other services and construction sectors. The drawdown of these new commitments as well as support from the government’s managed funds loan scheme translated to higher outstanding loans over the month. Including non-banks’ lending, it only rose by 0.6%. Over the year, total bank lending to businesses increased by 10.4%. However, including government on-lent loans, annual business lending only increased by 1.5%, reflecting declines in government on-lent loans.
Household lending
Bank lending to households increased over the month by 0.9%, driven by a rise in other personal loans. Housing loans also increased, coinciding with higher payments for imports of construction materials. This indicates a strong construction sector over the month. Including non-banks’ lending to household, it rose by 1.1%. Annual total bank lending to households increased by 11.7%, underpinned by the increase in housing loans. This is consistent with a 16.7 basis points decline in average lending rate for housing. Household loans have been increasing constantly since September 2013, reflecting more consumer confidence. Including loans extended by non-banks, annual household lending rose by 15.1%.
Other lending
Other loans declined over the month and year by 2.1% and 35.1% respectively, due mainly to fewer loans to non-profit institutional sector.
Non-performing loans
Non-performing loans for the banking system fell slightly over the month and over the year by 12%. This was mainly due to write-offs of non-performing business loans.
Deposits
Total bank deposits slightly rose over the month by 0.6% mainly due to increases in the savings and term deposits. Over the year, bank deposits grew by 8.0% supported by increases in all categories. This coincides with rises in the weighted deposit rates for savings and term deposits.
Interest rates spread
Weighted interest rate spread widened over the month from 5.92% to 5.95%. This was due to a 5.3 basis points increase in weighted average lending rate to 8.32% caused by an increase in interest rate on business loans. This outweighed a 2.7 basis points increase in weighted average deposit rate.
Broad money
During the month broad money increased by 1.2% to T$389.8 million. The rise reflects a 3.8% increase in net foreign assets due to a T$9.7 million increase in foreign reserves more than offsetting a 4.5% decline in net domestic assets. The increase in foreign reserves reflected the receipt of budget support for the Government from one of the donor partners during the month. The decline in net domestic assets resulted from an increase in government deposits over the month. Increases in currency in circulation and total demand deposits also contributed to the overall growth in broad money. Over the year, broad money increased by 8.9%, due mainly to the improvement in credit growth.
Liquidity
Banking system liquidity fell slightly over the month by 0.8% to T$141 million underpinned by an increase in banks’ cash withdrawl from the NRBT in light of the special Sundays (Children Sunday, Father’s Day & Mother’s Day) happening during the month. Over the year, it rose by 3.9%, which resulted from the higher deposits and rise in foreign reserves. The increase in banking system liquidity over the year also contributed to the growth in broad money.
Outlook
Credit growth is supported by the continuous improvements in business confidence, improving economic conditions and annual events. Continued competition amongst banks and the ongoing lending activities of the Government’s managed funds will continue to support the current low lending rates. The NRBT is forecasting credit growth to grow by more than 10% in the next six months. This is based on continuous improvements in business confidence supporting banks’ positive outlook on bankable projects; imminent drawdowns of some large loan commitments;
the continued low interest rates; and the Government’s manage funds loan scheme. The NRBT will continue to promote prudent lending and closely monitor credit growth in light of the impact on the monetary policy targets and financial stability.
Download the Banking Sector Development report of May for more information and figures.
