Monetary Statistics for December 2024
According to statistics published today (28 January) by the Hong Kong
Monetary Authority, total deposits with authorized institutions
increased by 0. 9% in December 2024. Among the total, Hong Kong dollar
deposits and foreign currency deposits both increased by 0. 9% in
December. For 2024 as a whole, total deposits and Hong Kong dollar
deposits grew by 7. 1% and 2. 8% respectively. Renminbi deposits in
Hong Kong decreased by 6. 6% in December to RMB926. 6 billion at the
end of December, mainly reflecting fund flows of corporates. The total
remittance of renminbi for cross-border trade settlement amounted to
RMB1,401. 6 billion in December, compared with RMB1,333. 7 billion in
November. It should be noted that changes in deposits are affected by
a wide range of factors, such as interest rate movements and fund-
raising activities. It is therefore more appropriate to observe the
longer-term trends, and not to over-generalise fluctuations in a
single month.
Total loans and advances increased by 0. 3% in
December, while decreased by 2. 8% for 2024 as a whole. Among the
total, loans for use in Hong Kong (including trade finance) increased
by 0. 8%, while loans for use outside Hong Kong decreased by 1. 3% in
December. The Hong Kong dollar loan-to-deposit ratio decreased to 77.
1% at the end of December from 78. 0% at the end of November, as Hong
Kong dollar deposits increased while Hong Kong dollar loans decreased.
For the fourth quarter of 2024 as a whole, loans for use in
Hong Kong (including trade finance) decreased by 0. 1% after
decreasing by 0. 8% in the previous quarter. Analysed by economic use,
loans for financial concerns increased, while loans to building,
construction, property development and investment decreased.
Hong Kong dollar M2 and M3 both increased by 0. 8% in
December, and increased by 2. 7% and 2. 8% respectively when compared
to a year ago. The seasonally-adjusted Hong Kong dollar M1 increased
by 1. 0% in December and increased by 1. 3% compared to a year ago,
reflecting in part investment-related activities. Total M2 and total
M3 increased by 0. 9% and 0. 8% respectively in December. Compared to
a year earlier, total M2 and total M3 increased by 7. 3% and 7. 4%
respectively.
As monthly monetary statistics are subject to
volatilities due to a wide range of transient factors, such as
seasonal and IPO-related funding demand as well as business and
investment-related activities, caution is required when interpreting
the statistics.
Annex Hong Kong Monetary Authority 28 January
2025