Chinese banks are required to keep......>

CHINA PRESS: Chinese banks are required to keep their loan loss provisions at

around 150% and those with a rate which is double this requirement are suspected

of hiding profits, Shanghai Securities News reported citing a statement on the

website of the Ministry of Finance. Funds which are excess to these provisions,

which are set aside for bad loans, are required to be distributed to

shareholders in China. Securities News cited Zeng Gang, deputy director of the

National Institution for Finance & Development, who believes that banks should

still maintain a relatively high level of provision given the economic

pressures.