The commercial banking system remained stable with total assets of $ million as at the end of April 2004, total deposits of $ million, and total loans of $ million.
Under these circumstances, uncertainty regarding the economic outlook is diminishing somewhat, and business sentiment is improving to some extent, mainly among large manufacturing firms. As for the employment situation, the number of employees including non-regular employees such as temporary workers has almost stopped declining. However, the increase in the overtime hours worked and new job offers has come to a halt.