“Statistics at end-September 2012 are preliminary and subject to change. Large movements in the latest data are highlighted in the Statistical release. Data are available via the BIS WebStats query tool, in PDF and CSV files on the BIS website (locational and consolidated), and as a single PDF file in detailed annex tables. Final statistics, with an analysis of recent trends, will be released in conjunction with the forthcoming BIS Quarterly Review, to be published on 18 March 2013. Data at end-December 2012 will be released no later than 25 April 2013. For the first time, the BIS is releasing consolidated banking statistics for Korean banks. The addition of Korea brings the number of countries contributing to the consolidated banking statistics on an immediate borrower basis to 31. The foreign claims of banks headquartered in Korea stood at $121 billion at end-September 2012, comparable in size to the foreign claims of Brazilian banks ($98 billion) and Portuguese banks ($123 billion). Roughly half of Korean banks’ foreign claims were on counterparties in the Asia-Pacific region, led by borrowers in China, Hong Kong SAR and Japan. Among BIS reporting banks at end-September 2012, Korean banks were the largest creditors to Cambodia and Uzbekistan and the second largest to Vietnam.”