Hong Kong's total loans increased 0.3% in December 2024, according to data from the Hong Kong Monetary Authority.

Loans for use in the city, including trade finance, rose 0.8%, while loans for use outside the city fell 1.3% during the month, Hong Kong's de facto central bank said Jan. 28.

The Hong Kong dollar loan-to-deposit ratio declined to 77.1% at the end of December from 78% at the end of November 2024, the HKMA said.

For Q4 2024, loans for use slipped 0.1% from 0.8% in Q3. Loans for financial concerns grew, while loans for building, construction, property development, and investment declined, the central bank said.