China's foreign exchange deposits have grown slightly while foreign exchange loans have jumped.

Figures released Monday by the People's Bank of China, or the central bank, showed that outstanding forex deposits in financial institutions stood at US$150.1 billion at the end of October, a slight increase of 1.7 percent year on year.

Of the total deposits, corporate money was US$52.2 billion, increasing 4.9 percent on a yearly basis, while savings deposits went down 1.9 percent to US$86.8 billion.

Forex loans continued to grow fast in October. At the end of the month, outstanding forex loans were US$128.2 billion, surging 28.4 percent from a year ago.

Included were US$43.7 billion of short-term loans and US$46.3 billion of middle and long-term loans among others, up 44. 6 and 31.9 percent, respectively, year on year.

(Xinhua News Agency November 11, 2003)