FINANCIAL NOTES
BANK BaLaNct-SmzErs.
THE full accounts of all the " Big Five " banks have now been published. They show a common trend. The banks have a larger total of clients' deposits on their books and they have been able to employ these funds in a more profitable manner, because larger advances have been required. The relatively less profitable fields of investment in Gilt-edged stocks and of discounting bills have been used-to a smaller extent. The total deposits with the " Big Five " on Decem- ber 31st amounted to £2,030,406,181, an increase on the year of £18,824,270, while advances amounted to £852,207,216, an increase of £86,594,454. BiUs,,at £263,417,921, show a decline of £4,246,172, and investments at £528,902,619 show a fall of £23,803,617. The accounts of Barclays Bank were discussed last week ; those of the other four banks are analysed below.
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