31.   Banking sources said the crisis was caused mainly by small-scale savers rushing to change their Lebanese pounds into dollars to safeguard their deposits.

32.   Banking analysts said the retrenchment was prudent as the retail banking services it was offering were duplicating those of commercial banks.

33.   Banking sources said exporters had called for the devaluation on grounds that their products were losing competitiveness due to currency devaluations in neighbouring India and Pakistan.

34.   Banking sources said the crisis was caused mainly by small-scale savers who were rushing to change their Lebanese pounds into dollars to safeguard their deposits.

35.   Banking sources say the figure is far too pessimistic and is nearer a trillion yen.

36.   Banking analysts said BNP could launch a new private banking entity for Asia to capitalise on growing business in the region.

37.   Banking analysts said the retrenchment by Bank Negara was prudent as some of the retail banking services it was offering were duplicating those of commercial banks.

38.   Banking officials said the euro cash rollout was running smoothly across the country.

39.   But banking sources said that the size of the issue would depend on the interest shown by the market.

40.   But banking officials said the general demand for dollars could be met.