The net financial assets of Irish households and non-profit institutions rose by €24.9 billion last year, new figures from the Central Statics Office showed today.
This brings the total value of the sector to €105.8 billion, 31 per cent higher than the same period last year.
The financial assets of the sector rose by €20.3 billion, while liabilities - mostly loans - fell by €4.6 billion. Assets include bank deposits, shares, life insurance and pension fund assets, but exclude housing and other physical assets.
Net financial transactions showed a change in trend for the year, turning positive after negative figures in recent years. Households and non-profit institutions serving households incurred liabilities of -€1.3 billion over the year, as borrowing declined, and combined with a net acquisition of financial assets of just under €5.8 billion, the final net financial transaction figure for the year was €7.1 billion.
Meanwhile, the net financial assets of general government fell by €25.3 billion, and those of non-financial companies rose by €6.3 billion. The financial corporations sector saw its net transactions decline by €9.2 billion.
