Commercial banks constitute a major component of the financial sector in Macao. They have continued to assume a dominant share in financial assets in the Special Administrative Region. Until the first half of 2008，the financial sector had grown satisfactorily. With the outbreak of the sub-prime mortgage crisis in the US，business environments and earnings for the local financial industry have started to reverse. Entering into 2009，as the global financial crisis impacts deeply on the real economy，the financial industry is expected to adjust markedly its strategy adopted in the past few years，avoiding new financial products and service diversification. The financial business，moving along with the macroeconomy，would witness slowdown in the year to come.