Bank lending in Singapore reverses to growth in October

BANK lending in Singapore rose 0.8 per cent in October from a month ago - reversing from a slip in September - as growth in business lending turned positive, preliminary data from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) showed on Wednesday.

From a year ago, bank lending in October was up one per cent, reversing from 12 months of contraction.

Loans through the domestic banking unit - which captures lending in all currencies but mainly reflects Singapore-dollar lending - stood at S$608 billion in October, up from S$603 billion in September.

Business loans rose one per cent in October from September, at S$359 billion. Consumer loans' growth stood at 0.4 per cent in October from September to S$249 billion. This was weaker than the 0.8 per cent growth in September.