MNI DATA IMPACT: Corp Loan, Household Demand Up: BOJ Survey

     TOKYO (MNI) - Financing demand by Japanese corporates through bank loans

rose in April from the previous three months, according to the Bank of Japan's

latest quarterly survey of senior loan officers at 50 banks released on Tuesday.

     The index for corporate fund demand stood at +14 in April, up from +2 in

January, as demand rose due to a worsening of corporate financing caused by the

spread of the coronavirus.

     The index is calculated by subtracting the number of banks reporting a

decline in lending from the number of those reporting an increase.

     The latest survey period was from March 10 to April 10.

     Other key points from the survey:

     --The index for demand from large companies rose to +6 from +1 and the

index for small businesses rose to +13 from +1. Demand expected for the next

three months stood at +46, sharply up from -1 in the previous survey.

     --The index showing household demand for funds stood at -7 in April, up

from -11, driven by falling income and an increase of housing investment.

     --The senior loan officer index for corporate fund demand hit a record high

of +43 in Q4 2008, up from -5 in the previous three months. The global financial

crisis hurt companies' ability to borrow directly from financial markets. The

BOJ began the survey in April 2000.

--MNI Tokyo Bureau; tel: +81 90-2175-0040; email: hiroshi.inoue@marketnews.com

--MNI London Bureau; tel: +44 203-586-2225; email: les.commons@marketnews.com

[TOPICS: MAJDS$,M$A$$$,M$J$$$]