HONG KONG, July 28 (Xinhua) -- Hong Kong Exchange Fund's total assets amounted to 1.11 trillion HK dollars (142.4 billion U.S. dollars) at the end of June, 2.1 billion HK dollars (269 million U.S. dollars) higher than the May figure, Hong Kong Monetary Authority said on Friday.

According to a government press release, foreign currency assets rose 5.4 billion HK dollars (692 million U.S. dollars), mainly due to interest and dividend income from foreign currency assets and an increase in securities purchased but settled in the following month, which were partly offset by valuation of foreign currency investments.

Hong Kong dollar assets went down 3.3 billion HK dollars (423 million U.S. dollars), mainly due to fiscal drawdowns and a decrease in Exchange Fund Bills and Notes issued but not yet settled, which were partly offset by an increase in bank borrowings and valuation of Hong Kong equities held by the Exchange Fund.

The Monetary Base stood at 287.6 billion HK dollars (36.87 billion U.S. dollars) at the end of June, up 100 million HK dollars (12.82 million U.S. dollars) from the end of May. The Backing Assets went up 1.1 billion HK dollars (141 million U.S. dollars), to 322.6 billion HK dollars (41.36 billion U.S. dollars).

The Monetary Authority said the increase was attributable mainly to the interest from investments. Enditem