March bankruptcy filings rise

The number of bankruptcy petitions filed increased by 44 percent on March month-on-month, data from Official Receiver's Office showed.

From the same month, the year before, petitions fell by 5.3 percent to 779 last month.

In the first three months, petitions increased by nearly 30 percent to 1,986.

The number of compulsory winding-up petitions last month jumped by 26 percent year-on-year and 16 percent month-on-month to 44.

In the first quarter, the number was up by 77 percent from a year ago to 136.

Bankruptcy orders made were 952 and winding-up orders were 28.