October 30, 2006	Monday	Shawwal 6, 1427

According to the Statement of Affairs of the State Bank of Pakistan, for the week ended October 14, 2006, both notes in circulation and those issued increased in the week. Notes in circulation stood at Rs836,254.585 million against earlier week’s figure of Rs826,573.610 million, a rise of Rs9,680.975 million. When compared to the corresponding week a year ago when it was Rs752,516.687 million, the current week’s figure is higher by Rs83,737.898 million.

Total notes issued also rose in the current week over preceding week’s level. At Rs836,447.495 million it was higher by Rs9,720.675 million over the figure of Rs826,726.820 million recorded a week earlier. In the corresponding week last year it amounted to Rs752,672.300 million, which shows current week’s figure to be higher by Rs83,775.195 million over last year’s corresponding figure.

Approved foreign exchange declined in the week to Rs507,900.419 million or by Rs12,513.032 million over preceding week’s figure of Rs520,413.451 million. When compared to the corresponding week a year ago, when the figure was Rs440,401.811 million, the current week’s figure is higher by Rs67,498.608 million.

Balances held outside Pakistan in approved foreign exchange increased in the week under review. It stood at Rs142,668.084 million over preceding week’s figure of Rs131,937.373 million, a rise of Rs10,730.711 million. Compared to last year’s corresponding figure of Rs137,438.568 million, the current week’s figure is larger by Rs5,229.516 million.

Loans and advances of scheduled banks to the three sectors – agricultural, industrial and export showed a mixed trend in the week under review. The agricultural sector received Rs62,682.785 million, similar to preceding week’s figure. The current week’s figure is larger by Rs2,458.723 million over last year’s corresponding figure of Rs60,224.062 million.

There was an inflow of Rs8,519.232 million to the industrial sector during the week under review, a rise of Rs272.95 million against preceding week’s figure of Rs8,246.282 million. When compared to last year’s corresponding figure of Rs1,795.200 million, the current week’s figure is higher by Rs6,724.032 million.

The export sector received Rs116,860.457 million against previous week’s figure of Rs113,264.211 million, a rise of Rs3,596.246 million. Current week’s figure was larger by Rs16,328.81 million over last year’s corresponding figure of Rs100,531.647 million.

According to the weekly statement of position of all scheduled banks for the week ended October 14, 2006, deposits and other accounts of the scheduled banks stood at Rs2,810.421 billion, higher by Rs4.545 billion over preceding week’s figure of Rs2,805.876 billon. Commercial banks deposits showed an increase of Rs4.88 billion over the week to Rs2,798.460 billion, against preceding week’s Rs2,793.580 billion, while of specialized banks it fell by Rs0.335 billion to Rs11.961 billion, over previous week’s Rs12.296 billion.

Borrowings by all scheduled banks increased during the week over preceding week’s figure. It rose to Rs387.404 billion over preceding week’s figure of Rs370.609 billion, a rise of Rs16.795 billion. This was primarily due to an increase in the borrowings by commercial banks, which rose to Rs299.462 billion against previous week’s Rs282.616 billion, or by Rs16.846 billion, while borrowings by specialised banks stood at Rs87.942 billion, lower by Rs0.05 billion over preceding week’s figure of Rs87.992 billion.

Gross advances stood at Rs2,225.956 billion in the week under review, a rise of Rs2.25 billion over preceding week’s figure of Rs2,223.706 billion. Advances by commercial banks rose to Rs2,128.234 billion against earlier week’s figure of Rs2,126.009 billion, higher by Rs2.225 billion, while of specialized banks it stood at Rs97.722 billion.

Investments of all scheduled banks increased in the week by Rs10.553 billion to Rs790.583 billion against preceding week’s figure of Rs780.030 billion. Commercial banks investment rose to Rs779.895 billion, from earlier week’s Rs768.812 billion, larger by Rs11.083 billion, while of specialized banks it stood at Rs10.688 billion against previous week’s Rs11.218 billion, smaller by Rs0.53 billion.

Cash and balances with treasury banks of all scheduled banks declined by Rs2.857 billion during the week to stand at Rs306.629 billion against earlier week’s Rs309.486 billion. The figure for commercial banks also fell to Rs304.218 billion against preceding week’s figure of Rs307.264 billion, a fall of Rs3.046 billion. For specialized banks there was an increase of Rs0.189 billion to Rs2.411 billion, against earlier week’s figure of Rs2.222 billion.

Total assets of scheduled banks stood at Rs3,787.603 billion, higher by Rs21.114 billion, over preceding week’s figure of Rs3,766.489 billion. Meanwhile, commercial banks assets stood at Rs3,671.467 billion, higher by Rs22.265 billion over previous week’s figure of Rs3,649.202 billion. Specialized banks assets fell by Rs1.152 billion to Rs116.136 billion against previous week’s Rs117.288 billion.