November 20, 2006	Monday	Shawwal 27, 1427

ACCORDING to the Statement of Affairs of the State Bank of Pakistan, for the week ended November 04, 2006, both notes in circulation and those issued declined in the week.

Notes in circulation stood at Rs861,494.704 million against earlier week’s figure of Rs880,553.272 million, a fall of Rs19,058.568 million. When compared to the corresponding week a year ago when it was Rs787,143.141 million, the current week’s figure is higher by Rs74,351.563 million.

Total notes issued also fell in the current week over preceding week’s level. At Rs861,690.271 million it was lower by Rs19,033.938 million over the figure of Rs880,724.209 million recorded a week earlier. In the corresponding week last year it amounted to Rs787,300.401 million, which shows current week’s figure to be higher by Rs74,389.870 million over last year’s corresponding figure.

Approved foreign exchange increased in the week to Rs517,748.889 million or by Rs5,258.048 million over preceding week’s figure of Rs512,490.841 million. When compared to the corresponding week a year ago, when the figure was Rs433,930.451 million, the current week’s figure is higher by Rs83,818.438 million.

Balances held outside Pakistan in approved foreign exchange decreased in the week under review. It stood at Rs134,038.859 million over preceding week’s figure of Rs138,758.471 million, a fall of Rs4,719.612 million. Compared to last year’s corresponding figure of Rs142,457.577 million, the current week’s figure is smaller by Rs8,418.718 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 Rs1,968.723 million over last year’s corresponding figure of Rs60,714.062 million.

There was an inflow of Rs14,771.009 million to the industrial sector during the week under review, a rise of Rs1,487.209 million against preceding week’s figure of Rs13,283.800 million. When compared to last year’s corresponding figure of Rs1,856.986 million, the current week’s figure is higher by Rs12,914.023 million.

The export sector received Rs120,683.757 million against previous week’s figure of Rs118,855.947 million, a rise of Rs1,827.810 million. Current week’s figure was larger by Rs17,450.380 million over last year’s corresponding figure of Rs103,233.377 million.

According to the weekly statement of position of all scheduled banks for the week ended November 04, 2006, deposits and other accounts of the scheduled banks stood at Rs2,830.439 billion, higher by Rs7.370 billion over preceding week’s figure of Rs2,823.123 billon. Commercial banks deposits showed an increase of Rs7.421 billion over the week to Rs2,818.646 billion, against preceding week’s Rs2,811.225 billion, while of specialized banks it fell by Rs0.051 billion to Rs11.847 billion, over previous week’s Rs11.898 billion.

Borrowings by all scheduled banks declined further during the week over preceding week’s figure. It fell to Rs365.111 billion over preceding week’s figure of Rs363.350 billion, a rise of Rs1.761 billion. This was primarily due to a increase in the borrowings by commercial banks, which increased to Rs277.119 billion against previous week’s Rs275.358 billion, or by Rs1.761 billion, while borrowings by specialised banks stood at Rs87.992 billion, similar to preceding week’s figure.

Gross advances stood at Rs2,263.830 billion in the week under review, a rise of Rs11.081 billion over preceding week’s figure of Rs2,252.749 billion. Advances by commercial banks rose to Rs2,165.752 billion against earlier week’s figure of Rs2,154.948 billion, higher by Rs10.804 billion, while of specialized banks it stood at Rs98.078 billion.

Investments of all scheduled banks increased in the week by Rs9.970 billion to Rs800.528 billion against preceding week’s figure of Rs790.558 billion. Commercial banks investment increased to Rs789.951 billion, from earlier week’s Rs780.114 billion, higher by Rs9.837 billion, while of specialized banks it stood at Rs10.577 billion against previous week’s Rs10.443 billion, larger by Rs0.134 billion.

Cash and balances with treasury banks of all scheduled banks decreased by Rs19.516 billion during the week to stand at Rs307.729 billion against earlier week’s Rs327.245 billion. The figure for commercial banks also fell to Rs305.695 billion against preceding week’s figure of Rs325.140 billion, a fall of Rs19.443 billion. For specialized banks there was a decline of Rs0.072 billion to Rs2.034 billion, against earlier week’s figure of Rs2.106 billion.

Total assets of scheduled banks stood at Rs3,810.066 billion, higher by Rs16.611 billion, over preceding week’s figure of Rs3,793.455 billion. Meanwhile, commercial banks assets stood at Rs3,692.289 billion, larger by Rs14.649 billion over previous week’s figure of Rs3,677.640 billion. Specialized banks assets fell by Rs1.963 billion to Rs117.777 billion against previous week’s Rs115.814 billion.