KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 30 — The banking system recorded a healthy excess capital buffer of RM142 billion in July 2023, Bank Negara Malaysia said.
The banking system also continued to record healthy liquidity buffers with the aggregate liquidity coverage ratio at 154.8 per cent from June’s 154.3 per cent.It said domestic financial market developments were driven mainly by financial market expectations that the US Federal Reserve’s monetary policy tightening cycle was nearing its end after the policy rate increase at the July Federal Open Market Committee meeting.
“Growth in outstanding loans to SMEs, however, remained forthcoming . In addition, outstanding corporate bonds growth continued to increase as bond issuance growth outpaced that of redemptions,” it said. This was reflective of the higher growth in household loan applications, particularly for the purchase of houses, cars and personal use.