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Business And Markets

Central Bank of Iran Reports 25% Growth in Liquidity

Monthly reports of Central Bank of Iran again speak of liquidity growth since the beginning of the present calendar year on March 20. 

The CBI’s latest report shows a 25.1% growth in liquidity by the end of third month of the calendar year to June 21 compared to the corresponding month last year. 

Liquidity stood at 197, 99.1 trillion rials ($176.7 billion) in the month, also indicating a 5.2% rise compared with the last month of previous fiscal year (ended March 19, 2019). 

The regulator reported an annual liquidity growth of 23.1% for the final month of last year when liquidity was 18,828 trillion rials ($168.1 billion). 

It should be noted that the latest growth rate is 0.1% lower than the figure for a month earlier (25.2%). However, it still is significant taking into account the bigger picture and considering several bouts of decline in the pace of liquidity growth.  

Earlier reports said although liquidity was growing at a regular pace, the CBI had managed to limit its growth for a few months.

Of the total liquidity, the share of money turnover in the banking system was 3,108.7 trillion rials ($27.7 billion) by the end of reviewed month, indicating 50.9% rise year-on-year and up 9% compared to the end of the last fiscal year. 

Additionally, the value of near-money amounted to 16,690.4 trillion rials ($149 billion), registering 21.2% hike YOY and 4.5% growth compared to the same month last year. 

The total value of banknotes and coins in circulation was 502.2 trillion rials ($4.4 billion) which indicates a 23.7% annual hike and 8.3% fall compared to data for the end of last year. 

 

Asset Growth 

Total assets in the banking system, including foreign assets plus government and non-government debt to lenders, reached 43,522.5 trillion rials ($388.5 billion) during the month. 

The figure shows 20.7% growth YOY while remaining unchanged compared to last yearend. 

Banks had more than 9,245.6 trillion rials ($82.5 billion) in foreign assets -- up 12.9% annually and a subtle 0.8% growth compared to the end of the last fiscal year.

The government sector, including government and state-owned companies, had 3,476.4 trillion rials ($31 billion) in debt to banks up until June 21 indicating 25.7% annual growth. 

Debt of non-government banks reached 13,475 trillion rials ($120.3 billion) during the period, showing a 21.9%  annual hike.

Data spoke of 1.5% annual decline with regard to CBI’s foreign assets during the month. The regulator had 4,527.4 trillion rials ($40.4 billion) in foreign assets, also down 2.7% compared to last month of the previous year. 

The value of banknotes and coins held as CBI assets was 32.5trillion rials in the same month, down 23.7% compared with the same month last year and up 50.5% compared to the last yearend.  

Total government debt to CBI rose to 1,009.7 trillion rials ($9 billion) to record 64.3% annual growth. 

However, banks’ debt to CBI by June 21 indicated an annual decline of 3.7% and a 2.6% fall compared to the last calendar year.

Banks owed 1,345.5 trillion rials ($12 billion) to the central bank until the month.   

 

Commercial and Specialized Lenders 

By June 21 commercial banks had 5,783 trillion rials in assets that were 17.7% higher than the figure reported for the same month last year. 

Likewise, the value of assets held by specialized banks stood at 6,211 trillion rials, indicating a 13.5% annual growth. 

Aggregate value of foreign assets held by commercial banks stood at 563.1 trillion rials, indicating a 1.3%  annual increase and 1.8% fall compared to the last yearend. 

Likewise, total value of foreign assets held by specialized banks reached 1,116 trillion rials by June 21, indicating an annual increase of 28.7%.