YEREVAN, September 1. /ARKA/. Armenian banks’ investments in government bonds amounted to AMD 114.4 billion by late June (5.2% less than in the beginning of this year).
According to ARKA News agency’s analysis based on banks’ financial reports, share of investments in government securities in aggregate assets was 6.5% in the end of the second quarter against 7.7% at the beginning of this year.
The aggregate portfolio of all the securities amounted to AMD 119.6 billion in late June. Government securities accounted for 95.66% of this amount.
The ARKA News Agency’s analysis shows that HSBC Bank Armenia was the largest investor in securities in the second quarter. It invested AMD 20.7 billion in securities, of which AMD 20.6 billion or 99.85% in government bonds. Nongovernmental securities amount to AMD 32.1 million and constitute only 0.15% of the bank’s securities portfolio. HSBC Bank Armenia profited AMD 1209 million from investing in interest-bearing debt securities (18.1% of the total interest profit) in the second quarter of this year.
ArmSwissbank, with its AMD 14.9 billion, was the second biggest investor in securities in the second quarter. Its investments in government bonds made up 95.59% and in non-government securities 4.41% of its securities portfolio.
The bank’s interest profit from investing in debt securities totaled AMD 836.4 million and accounted for 43% of the total interest profit.
Ardshininvestbank, with AMD 11.9 billion invested in securities, came third in ARKA News Agency’s ranking. The bank’s investments in government bonds made up 99.81% and investments in non-government securities 0.19% of its securities portfolio.
Some 21 banks with their 417 branches operated in Armenia in late June 2011. ($1 = AMD 367.93).-0—
