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Post by bot on Feb 5, 2014 10:01:41 GMT -5
Banks in U.S. increase lending, Fed says WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) - Banks experienced stronger demand for loans over the past three months as companies took advantage of easier lending terms, according to a Federal Reserve survey issued Monday. The quarterly poll of 75 domestic and 21 foreign banks operating in the U.S. found that businesses showed greater appetite for loans compared to the last Fed report in November. Yet demand for home-mortgage loans softened for the second straight quarter, the Fed said, as higher rates discouraged would-be buyers. Larger banks eased standards for mortgages but smaller banks tightened them. Banks also said they eased standards for credit cards, auto and other goods as consumers appeared more willing to take on debt. In response to tighter government regulations on leveraged lending, some banks said they curbed such borrowing but they expected borrowers would be able to "turn to other sources of funding."
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