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Published: 10 January 2014

Holding gains increased households’ financial assets in the third quarter of 2013

In the third quarter of 2013, households' financial assets grew by EUR 2.4 billion, mainly as a result of holding gains accrued from quoted shares and mutual funds. Households' financial assets have grown more than their debts in five previous quarters. At the end of the third quarter of 2013, the difference between households' financial assets and debts, i.e. net financial assets, amounted to EUR 102.6 billion. Households' indebtedness ratio remained in practice unchanged during the reference period. These data derive from Statistics Finland’s financial accounts statistics.

Change from the previous quarter in households’ net financial assets

At the end of the third quarter of 2013, households had a total of EUR 238.4 billion in financial assets and EUR 135.7 billion in debt. During the quarter, financial assets grew more than debts, as a result of which households' net financial assets, i.e. the difference between their financial assets and debts, grew by EUR 1.3 billion to EUR 102.6 billion.

During the third quarter of 2013, holding gains increased households' financial assets by close on EUR 3 billion. There were no clear changes in households’ investment behaviour. As in the previous quarter, net investments in mutual funds were positive and in quoted shares negative. As the low level of interest rates continued, households further decreased their fixed-term deposits.

Households' loan stock and disposable income continued to grow at the same rate, as a consequence of which households' indebtedness ratio remained unchanged at 117.6 per cent. Households' indebtedness ratio is calculated as the ratio of their loan debts at the end of a quarter to their total disposable income during the preceding four quarters.

In the third quarter of 2013, non-financial corporations increased their financing in the form of debt securities but correspondingly reduced their loan stock. Thus, non-financial corporations' debt financing, i.e. loan debts and financing in the form of debt securities, remained nearly unchanged, being EUR 207.9 billion at the end of the quarter.

Source: Financial accounts, Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Martti Pykäri 09 1734 3382, rahoitus.tilinpito@stat.fi

Director in charge: Leena Storgårds

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Appendix tables

• Appendix table 1. Financial liabilities of Non-financial corporations, million EUR (10.1.2014)
• Appendix table 2. Households' disposable income, loan debts and indebtedness ratio (10.1.2014)

Figures

• Appendix figure 1. Households' net acquisition of deposits, quoted shares and mutual fund shares (10.1.2014)
• Appendix figure 2. Financial assets of households (10.1.2014)
• Appendix figure 3. Households indebtedness ratio (10.1.2014)

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Updated 10.1.2014