Improvements in banks’ balance sheets are also reflected in the decline in the level of non-performing loans (NPLs). As shown in Figure 9, the NPL ratios of all bank groups have declined substantially from their peaks, particularly those of state-owned banks. At the same time, capitalization has been strengthened considerably and the system appears more than adequately provisioned. The ratio of existing loan loss reserves to required reserves is well over 100 percent, while the BIS ratios of capital to risk assets for all banks are several percentage points higher than required.Stronger balance sheets have facilitated a return to profitability for the banking sector. This is captured in Figure 10, which traces out the entire banking system’s return on assets, net prof its, and pre-provision prof its from 1991 to 2003 Q3. The trend is especially comforting when one looks at the latter, which is a better measure of earning strength than net profits.