With economic activity and prices improving, firms’ demand for funds has also been increasing gradually and become more widespread in terms of industries and regions, and financial institutions are trying to actively respond to such demand. In this respect, we at the Bank judge that the financial system has been functioning steadily to encourage economic recovery.
At the same time, the financial system is expected to play a more important role in supporting firms’ and regions’ initiatives to address the medium- to long-term challenges of a declining and aging population.