Euro area banks expect further increase in demand for loans from businesses and households in the fourth quarter, the results of the latest Bank Lending Survey of the European Central Bank showed on Tuesday.
Banks expect a continued increase in demand for loans to enterprises, home loans and consumer credit and other lending to households in the fourth quarter, the quarterly survey said. Net demand for loans to enterprises continued to increase, albeit less-than-expected, in the third quarter with growth in demand for loans to both small and medium-sized enterprises and large firms. Demand grew in Germany, France, Italy and the Netherlands. The survey showed that the increase in demand for loans to enterprises was mainly driven by the low general level of interest rates, fixed investment, inventories and working capital, and M&A activity. Demand for housing loans increase in all large euro countries except France. Low general level of interest rates, favorable housing market prospects and consumer confidence, remained the driving forces behind the demand for home loans.
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