According to statistics released today by the Monetary Authority of Macao, new approvals of residential mortgage loans (RMLs) and commercial real estate loans (CRELs) both decreased in February 2019.  With regard to the outstanding balance, both RMLs and CRELs remained broadly stable from a month earlier.

New lending approved

In February 2019, new RMLs approved by Macao banks dropped by 58.8% month-to-month to MOP1.82 billion. Of which, new RMLs to residents, representing 97.8% of the total, decreased by 58.9% to MOP1.78 billion. On the other hand, the non-resident component fell by 55.3% to MOP39.5 million. The monthly average of new RMLs approved between December 2018 and February 2019 was MOP3.3 billion, down by 15.2% from the previous period (November 2018 to January 2019). 

New RMLs collateralised by uncompleted units (i.e. equitable mortgage) decreased month-to-month by 71.3% to MOP379.9 million; of which, the equitable mortgage extended to residents accounted for 94.4% of the total. On an annual basis, new equitable mortgage approved rose by 40.8%.

New CRELs dropped by 47.9% month-to-month to MOP3.0 billion. Within this total, new CRELs to residents, which occupied 96.8% of the total, dropped by 49.4% to MOP2.9 billion. On the other hand, new CRELs to non-residents increased to MOP94.6 million. The monthly average of new CRELs approved between December 2018 and February 2019 was MOP4.8 billion, up by 1.3% as compared with the previous period (November 2018 to January 2019). 

Outstanding balances

As at end-February 2019, the outstanding value of RMLs broadly stabilised at MOP218.0 billion from a month earlier but up by 14.9% from a year ago. The resident component made up 92.8% of the total.  When compared with the preceding month, outstanding RMLs to residents remained virtually unchanged whereas those to non-residents fell by 0.4%.

The outstanding value of CRELs stood at MOP196.2 billion, which remained broadly stable from a month ago but up by 4.0% from a year earlier.  Residents accounted for 93.4% of the loans. Compared with a month earlier, outstanding CRELs to residents stayed virtually unchanged whereas those to non-residents decreased by 0.6%.

Delinquency ratios

At the end of February 2019, the delinquency ratio for RMLs edged up by 0.01 percentage point from the preceding month to 0.17%, down by 0.05 percentage points over a year earlier. The ratio for CRELs was 0.17%, up by 0.01 percentage point from a month ago or 0.02 percentage points from end-February 2018.