CHINA HELPS 18 PROVINCES BUTTRESS SMALL BANKS

China has disbursed CNY200 billion to 18 provinces from

special-purpose local government bonds to help regional

lenders replenish capital, with each province receiving around

CNY11.1 billion, the 21st Century Business Herald reported

in an unsourced article. City and rural commercial banks are under

the greatest pressure as their capital adequacy ratios, at 12.65% and 12.81% in Q1,

are close to the so-called red line of 10.5% set by regulators. The ratios for

major state-owned banks, joint-stock banks and private banks

are 16.14%, 13.44% and 14.44%, the newspaper said.