Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) data showed authorized-institution deposits rose 0.4% in September as higher Hong Kong dollar lending and lower deposits in that currency lifted the Hong Kong dollar loan-to-deposit ratio to 70.3%. That ratio stood at 69.3% at the end of August.
Foreign-currency balances rose 1.6%, mainly reflecting corporate fund flows, offsetting a 1.1% decline in Hong Kong dollar deposits. From the start of the year through Sept. 30, total deposits and loans each increased 7.7%, while Hong Kong dollar deposits were up 7.3%.
Total loans and advances expanded 0.7% during September. Credit extended for use in Hong Kong, including trade finance, also rose 0.7%; loans designated for use outside the city gained 0.6%.
For July through September, the category covering Hong Kong use and trade finance rose 0.8%, following a 3.0% increase in the previous quarter. Trade finance increased, while lending to building, construction, property development and investment declined, the HKMA said.
Renminbi deposits grew 2.6% to RMB1,129.9 billion by Sept. 30. September cross-border trade settlement remittances reached RMB1,289.6 billion, up from RMB1,103.8 billion in August.
The broad money measures M2 and M3 each ended September 0.4% above their August levels, though the Hong Kong dollar versions were down 0.8%. On a 12-month comparison, total M2 was 10.1% higher and M3 was 10.0% higher; the Hong Kong dollar measures were both up 7.5%.
The HKMA said seasonal funding demand and business and investment activity can shift monthly statistics, and advised readers to watch longer-term patterns. It also noted that interest-rate changes and fundraising can affect deposit movements. The next listed release, covering October monetary statistics, is scheduled for Nov. 30, 2026.
