The recent improvements to the design of payment and settlement systems pose increasing challenges. For instance, eventual failures in time-critical payments and major liquidity shocks can be transmitted from one institution to another, both domestically or internationally. Moreover, institutions must ensure liquidity to meet their obligations on a timely basis throughout the business day.
Non-performing loan ratio was at record low of 1.1%. The overall profit for the first quarter jumped by 30.3% to MOP1.09 billion, after a notable result of MOP3.9 billion scored for the full year of 2006.