Hong Kong’s approved mortgage loans surged to a one-year high in May as more homebuyers sought to refinance their existing loans amid lower bank rates, according to data from the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA). Banks approved HK$26.6 billion (US$3.39 billion) worth of loans in May, a 5.3 per cent rise from a month earlier,…
The third and final part of the decoupling series looks at how Hong Kong’s financial system is crucial for China to advance the internationalisation of the yuan amid geopolitical tensions and discussions on de-dollarisation. Read part one and part two. Anyone seeking evidence that international businesses are actively looking to diversify from the US dollar…
Thirteen public works projects will be affected by the looming liquidation of one of Hong Kong’s largest construction firms, Paul Y Engineering Group, authorities have revealed, while saying the impact is manageable. The government said on Friday that it was prepared for the failure of the group, which had recently applied to the court to…
A dozen banks have joined six major lenders in Hong Kong to provide financial support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SME), which account for 98 per cent of the enterprises in the city, to help resolve cash-flow issues. The Hong Kong Association of Banks (HKAB) said on Monday that a total of 18 banks on…
Hong Kong’s monetary authority kept its key interest rate unchanged in lockstep with the US Federal Reserve, taking a breather after last year’s three cuts, in the first monetary policy decision of 2025. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) maintained its base rate at 4.75 per cent on Thursday, in line with market expectations. Hours…