30 April 2016
Doha - Government and public sector deposits in Qatar banks increased by QR5.4bn in March on month-on-month to reach QR209.4bn. The sector's total loans increased about QR3.5bn to QR255.7bn, a reading of the banks' consolidated balance sheet by the Group Security Company has revealed.

The government deposit in Qatar banks stood at QR62.2bn and government institutions at QR115.1bn by the end of March. The deposits of semi-government institutions touched QR32.1bn. In March, government sector loans increased by 1.5bn to QR94bn.

Government institution loans was up by QR0.8bn to QR139.6bn, while semi-government institutions' total loan slipped by QR1.2bn to reach QR22.1bn in March.

The balance of government bonds and bills with banks decreased about QR4.5bn to reach QR107.3bn. The total domestic public debt (government, government institutions, quasi-governmental institutions, bills and bonds) decreased by QR1.0bn to QR 363bn.

Qatar banks' total assets (and liabilities) increased by QR26.7bn to QR1.14trillion compared with QR1.11trillion by the end of February 2016. Total banks deposits at Qatar Central Bank increased by QR2.1bn to QR34.3bn.

Total domestic private sector deposits in local banks by the end of March increased by QR0.4bn to reach QR327.4bn, in addition to deposits worth QR9.8bn by non-banking financial institutions.

Total domestic loans and credit facilities provided by banks to the private sector increased by QR2.6bn to QR415.2bn.  This is in addition to loans and facilities worth QR16.3bn for the non-banking financial sector.

Banks investments in securities outside Qatar increased by QR0.2bn to hit QR21.9bn. A breakdown of the amount shows bonds and Sukuk worth QR18.4bn and QR3.5bn in shares and others.

Local banks assets with banks outside Qatar increased by QR13.4bn to QR79.6bn. Bank loans to foreign parties increased by QR0.4bn to reach the level of QR89.5bn.

In contrast, foreign banks liabilities on banks in Qatar decreased QR3.6bn to reach the level of QR186.6bn while the indebtedness of local banks to foreign parties in the form of bonds and certificates of deposit increased the level of QR35.3bn.  The balance of foreign deposits at Qatari banks increased QR16.9bn to QR114.9bn.

By reconciling assets at home and abroad with liabilities, The Group Securities finds that the banking sector debts to the outside world has increased about QR19.4bn in March to reach QR165.4bn.

© The Peninsula 2016