The investments of banks operating in the country exceeded 541 billion dirhams at the end of last February, achieving the highest level in its history, according to the latest statistics of the UAE Central Bank.
The statistics of the Central Bank, issued in the banking indicators report today, showed an increase in the investments of banks operating in the country on an annual basis, by 15.2%, to reach 541.1 billion dirhams at the end of last February, an increase equivalent to 71.3 billion dirhams, compared to about 470.1 billion dirhams in February 2022.
According to the Central Bank, bank investments increased on a monthly basis by 1%, compared to 536.2 billion dirhams last January, an increase equivalent to 5.2 billion dirhams in one month.
According to the statistics of the Central Bank, securities that represent debts to others, “debt bonds”, acquired the largest share of bank investments by about 46%, reaching 248.9 billion dirhams at the end of last February.
And the share of banks’ investments in securities held to maturity amounted to about 42.5% of total investments, reaching 230.3 billion dirhams at the end of last February, an increase on an annual basis of 93.53% compared to 119 billion in February 2022, and an increase on a monthly basis by about 4.7%. For 220 billion dirhams in January 2023.
Banks’ investments in stocks reached 12 billion dirhams at the end of last February, an increase on a monthly basis of about 1.7% compared to about 11.8 billion dirhams in January 2023, and a decrease on an annual basis of about 29.4% compared to 17 billion dirhams in February 2022.
According to the Central Bank’s statistics, other investments of banks amounted to about 50.2 billion dirhams at the end of last February, which is the same level recorded in the previous January, while it increased on an annual basis by 14.6%, compared to 43.8 billion dirhams in February 2022.
It is noteworthy that the bank’s investments do not include the bank’s deposit with the Central Bank in the form of certificates of deposit and cash drafts.
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