Leading banks report lending violations

Three major banks have said the nation's top auditor had uncovered lending irregularities but added the findings would not impact on their financial results.

The National Audit Office last year found violations by Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), China Construction Bank (CCB) and China CITIC Bank, the lenders said in separate statements to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

The news sent the shares of the three Hong Kong-listed lenders down 2-3 percent yesterday amid mounting concerns that recent sharp increases in lending could lead to a pile-up of bad loans.