BIS releases provisional international banking statistics

The BIS has released provisional data for the end of the fourth quarter of 2005 for both its locational and consolidated banking statistics. The locational statistics provide an insight into the aggregate international claims and liabilities of all banks in the 39 reporting countries on a residence and nationality basis. Whereas the consolidated statistics, which exclude banks' inter-office cross-border business, indicate the nature and extent of foreign claims of banks headquartered in 30 major financial centres, as well as providing supplementary information about countries' external debt.

The locational banking statistics measure aggregate international claims and liabilities of all banks in the 39 reporting countries using balance-of-payments concepts. For this dataset breakdowns are available by sector, instrument and vis-à-vis country. As a currency breakdown is also provided, the BIS can estimate exchange rate adjusted changes.

Worldwide consolidated data is reported on a contractual (immediate borrower) basis by banks' head offices in 30 reporting countries. This data