China ups US Treasury bond holdings in Dec

China remains the largest foreign creditor of the United States after it increased its holdings of US treasury bonds by $19.7 billion in December, data released by the US Treasury Department showed on Friday.

December was the third-consecutive month in which China increased its holdings of US Treasury securities.

A total of $1.202 trillion in US treasury bonds were held by China at the end of 2012, compared with the $1.183 trillion in November, and the $1.151 trillion at the end of 2011.

Japan, the US' second-largest creditor, also increased its holdings of US treasury bonds to $1.12 trillion in December.

At the end of December, US treasury bonds held by major foreign creditors totaled $5.56 trillion, higher than the $5.54 trillion in November, and an increase for the 12th consecutive month.

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