A decline in lending to euro zone firms slowed to a near halt in November, bolstering hopes of an increase in credit to aid the region's economic recovery.
European Central Bank figures published today showed company loans rose €11 billion in the month, compared to a €10 billion drop in October, leaving them just 0.1 per cent weaker than the same time a year ago.
"This is a welcome, limited step in the right direction. This raises hopes that euro zone banks may be becoming more willing to lend to what they perceive to be less risky businesses," said IHS Global Insight economist Howard Archer.
"It also hints that there has been a limited increase in companies looking to borrow to finance investment and business plans in reaction to recent improved activity."
Loans to the private sector overall were up 2 per cent over the year, ahead of economists' expectations of a 1.5 per cent improvement and up on the 1.5 per cent gain recorded in October.
The data also pointed to the absence of significant price pressures in the 16-nation region, bolstering economists' expectations that the ECB will not raise official interest rates until late next year at the earliest.
M3 money supply, a measure of cash readily available to spend which the ECB sees as a leading indicator for inflation, rose 1.9 per cent on an annual basis. However, it was ahead of expectations for a rise of 1.5 per cent.
At 1.3 per cent, the three-month moving average of M3 growth remains well below the ECB's reference rate of 4.5 per cent, above which the bank sees dangers to medium-term price stability.
Data for lending to home buyers, seen by economists as a potential leading indicator of lending trends, was less promising however, with mortgage lending slowing and lending to households overall slowing too.
Reuters