Brasília, 12/23/2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - The volume of credit operations in November reached R$404.9 billion, an increase of 2.5% for the month, and a cumulative increase of 7% for the year. The November result was the best since September of last year and comes on the heels of a reduciton in interest rates and a rise in consumer demand.

According to Luiz Sampaio Malan, of the Central Bank Economic Department, "There are positive signs of a higher demand for funding in order to make investments." Malan points out that there has been an increase in requests for Development Bank (BNDES) loans. (AB)