Banks' overseas loan leverage ratios raised

China has increased leverage ratios for banks' overseas loans to enhance the role of financial services in supporting the real economy and facilitating trade and investment, according to a notice published by the People's Bank of China and the State Administration of Foreign Exchange. Under the new regulations, the overseas loan leverage ratio for wholly foreign-owned banks, Sino-foreign joint venture banks and branches of foreign banks in China will be raised from 0.5 to 1.5.

Power generation by key enterprises up

Power generation by China's major electricity production enterprises increased 1.4 percent year-on-year in March, official data show. Total power output of these firms reached 802.5 billion kilowatt-hours last month, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

XINHUA-CHINA DAILY