71.   Currently, the central bank allows commercial banks to offer deposit rates only three percentage points above the reference rate.

72.   Customers can place their fixed deposits at Hong Leong Bank and Hong Leong Finance at a special rate of two per cent above the usual fixed deposit rate.

73.   Deposit rates were in double digits only a few weeks ago.

74.   Deposit rates outside Asia remained steady with no change in the forthcoming FOMC meeting.

75.   Depositors are still not increasing their Hong Kong dollar deposits despite higher deposit rates.

76.   Deposit rates are regularly reviewed based on market forces and liquidity position.

77.   During the guarantee period, the central bank would impose a ceiling on deposit rates to ensure that banks would not offer terms in excess of market terms.

78.   Economists say banks are profiteering from the situation byincreasing lending rates faster than their deposit rates.

79.   European dollar deposit rates, closed flat across the board with few lenders to the South East Asian markets on fears of continued currency turmoil.

80.   Excluding the cost of provisioning, the bank has made operating profits since the third quarter due to lower deposit rates.