WASHINGTON, Sept. 16 (Xinhua) -- Foreign purchases of U.S. long-term securities were 15.3 billion U.S. dollars in July, down sharply from 90.2 billion dollars purchased in June, the Treasury Department reported Wednesday.

    In the meantime, large holders of the U.S. long-term securities, including China, Japan and Britain, all increased their holdings, according to the Treasury.

    Data showed that China, the largest holder of the securities, increased its holdings to 800.5 billion dollars in July from 776.4billion in June.

    Japan, the second-largest holder of Treasury debt, raised its holdings to 724.5 billion dollars in July from 711.8 billion in June.

    Britain, the third-largest holder of Treasuries, boosted its holdings to 220 billion dollars from 214 billion in June.

    The figures reflect demand for U.S. Treasury obligations and other assets including stocks and government agency debt, a key to funding the massive U.S. balance of payments deficit with the rest of the world.