August 20, 2007	Monday	Sha’aban 6, 1428

In the treasury bills auction held on August 15, the cut off yield on T-bills increased. The rate of six month paper rose to 9.14 per cent from 9.09 per cent, while the 12-month T-bills yield rose marginally to 9.4 per cent from 9.39 per cent.

At the auction, the State Bank of Pakistan picked up Rs22.943 billion for 12 month paper, Rs1.912 billion for 6 month and Rs5.877 billion for 3 month T-bills.

According to the weekly statement of position of all scheduled banks for the week ended August 4, 2007, deposits and other accounts of the scheduled banks stood at Rs3,406.361 billion, higher by Rs22.988 billion over preceding week’s figure of Rs3,383.373 billion. Commercial banks deposits showed a rise of Rs23.12 billion over the week to Rs3,393.881 billion, against preceding week’s Rs3,370.761 billion. Specialised banks deposits stood at Rs12.480 billion, against preceding week’s Rs12.612 billion, a fall of Rs0.132 billion.

Borrowings by all scheduled banks increased during the week over preceding week’s figure. It rose to Rs442.092 billion over preceding week’s figure of Rs420.608 billion, a rise of Rs21.484 billion. This was primarily due to a rise in the borrowings by commercial banks, which rose to Rs360.674 billion against previous week’s Rs339.224 billion, or by Rs21.45 billion. Borrowings by specialized banks stood at Rs81.418 billion, against preceding week’s figure of Rs81.383 billion, a rise of Rs0.035 billion.

Gross advances (net of provision) stood at Rs2,295.039 billion in the week under review, a decline of Rs134.359 billion over preceding week’s figure of Rs2,429.398 billion. Advances by commercial banks declined to Rs2,222.952 billion against earlier week’s figure of Rs2,334.299 billion, or by Rs111.347 billion. Advances of specialized banks stood at Rs72.087 billion, smaller by Rs23.012 billion over earlier week’s figure of Rs95.099 billion.

Investments of all scheduled banks decreased in the week by Rs10.096 billion to Rs1,157.801 billion against preceding week’s figure of Rs1,167.897 billion. Commercial banks investment fell to Rs1,146.978 billion, from earlier week’s Rs1,156.799 billion, smaller by Rs9.821 billion. Specialized banks investment stood at Rs10.823 billion, against preceding week’s Rs11.098 billion, a decline by Rs0.275 billion.

Cash and balances with treasury banks of all scheduled banks declined by Rs10.083 billion during the week to stand at Rs342.999 billion against earlier week’s Rs353.082 billion. The figure for commercial banks stood at Rs340.590 billion against preceding week’s figure of Rs350.679 billion, a fall of Rs10.089 billion, while of specialized banks it stood at Rs2.409 billion over previous week’s Rs2.404 billion..

Total assets of scheduled banks stood at Rs4,585.614 billion, higher by Rs43.106 billion, over preceding week’s figure of Rs4,542.508 billion. Meanwhile, commercial banks assets stood at Rs4,470.522 billion, larger by Rs43.731 billion over previous week’s figure of Rs4,426.791 billion. Specialized banks assets declined to Rs115.092 billion, or by Rs0.625 billion over previous week’s Rs115.717 billion.