New record for foreign holdings of U.S. Treasury debt

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Washington • Foreign holdings of U.S. Treasury securities rose in December to a record high despite cutbacks by China and Japan, the two biggest foreign owners of Treasury debt.

The Treasury Department says foreign ownership of Treasury securities increased 0.7 percent in December to a fresh record of $6.17 trillion, up from $6.13 trillion in November.

China, the biggest foreign holder of Treasury debt, reduced its holdings 1.5 percent to $1.25 trillion. Japan, No. 2 foreign holder of U.S. government debt, trimmed its holdings by 2 percent to $1.12 trillion.

These cutbacks were offset by increases by Caribbean banking centers such as the Bahamas and the Cayman Islands, which boosted their holdings by 4.5 percent to $351.6 billion. Ireland and Switzerland also expanded their holdings.