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Central banks

As part of China’s new stimulus package, the People’s Bank of China (pictured) has factored in an estimated 2 trillion yuan worth of bond issuance to help consumers and encourage local government spending. Photo: Shutterstock

Explainer | How China’s 2024 stimulus compares with past packages, and what’s next?

In nominal terms, the massive package has the potential to be China’s biggest ever.

In nominal terms, the massive package has the potential to be China’s biggest ever

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Fed rate cut could propel Hong Kong to top 3 on global IPO table by year-end

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Hong Kong property investors to keep powder dry as rate cut fails to tempt

Rising bad debts on Hong Kong commercial property ‘a concern’: HKMA CEO

The increase is ‘not alarming’ as the banking system is robust enough to handle the uptick, according to Eddie Yue.

The vacancy rate for grade A office buildings in Hong Kong soared to 14 per cent in June, the highest point since 2004, according to CBRE. Photo: Yik Yeung-man

Macroscope | Can central banks really prevent a repeat of the Great Depression?

As we wrestle with challenges similar to those before the 1920s slump, let’s not rely on central bankers to save us from economic calamity.

Editorial | Easing fear of making mistakes can help boost China economy

Rare September Politburo meeting encourages innovation, stresses importance of private sector and delivers more welcome stimulus measures.

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Tencent cashes in on Futu as China boosts economic stimulus

Tencent has been unwinding some of its investment portfolio and the Futu share sale is in line with the strategy, a source says.

The Tencent headquarters in Shenzhen, southern China. Photo: AFP

Wall Street jumps on China stocks after Beijing wields stimulus ‘big guns’

Chinese stocks are on a tear, and prominent figures including billionaire investor David Tepper and Goldman Sachs’ Scott Rubner are all in.

China weighs injecting US$142 billion of capital into top banks

Funding for the first such intervention since the 2008 financial crisis would mainly come from new special sovereign bonds, sources say.

China’s mortgage cut still insufficient to move the needle, boost spending

Raft of policy and interest rate changes were unveiled on Tuesday as China’s policymakers sought revive the world’s second-largest economy.

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Pedestrians outside a Miniso Group store in the Wangfujing shopping area in Beijing. Photo: Bloomberg

Is the strengthening ringgit a blessing or a curse for Malaysians?

While some Malaysians celebrate the strong currency, others are feeling the pinch as their income from foreign sources shrinks.

Malaysia’s ringgit has surged to its highest point in decades, boosting confidence in the economy and attracting foreign investment. Photo: Bloomberg

China’s yuan continues upward climb after Beijing’s stimulus roll-out

The yuan reached its highest level in over a year on Wednesday following interest rate cuts and new measures from China’s central bank.

Is China’s new large-scale stimulus an economic saviour or ‘not enough’?

Some analysts see ‘panicking’ among China’s policymakers, others point to a rising sense of urgency in fighting deflation.

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China’s long-term focus still the same despite stimulus measures

Easing by China’s central bank will stabilise the economy for now, but the country is looking for a paradigm shift in its overall strategy.

The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) headquarters are seen in Beijing. The bank has announced a stimulus package to jump-start the economy. Photo: Shutterstock

Explainer | 7 takeaways from China’s most significant stimulus package since the pandemic

High-ranking Chinese officials, led by People’s Bank of China governor Pan Gongsheng, unveil a slew of policies to boost world’s second-largest economy.

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People’s Bank of China governor Pan Gongsheng leaves after a press conference in Beijing on Tuesday. Photo: Reuters

China’s NDRC urges firms to use Hong Kong for financing needs

Hong Kong seen as a top financing platform for the mainland’s ‘attracting foreign investment’ and ‘going global’ strategy, an NDRC official says.

China’s central bank throws a lifeline to the struggling stock market

The PBOC plans to set up a swap facility that would give financial institutions access to at least US$71 billion in funding to buy shares.

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China’s yuan gains ground after rate cuts, exporters’ US dollar exodus

Cuts by the Federal Reserve have prompted exporters to convert their US dollar assets into yuan, strengthening China’s currency.

China’s yuan has made gains on the US dollar after a Federal Reserve interest rate cut last week. Photo: Shutterstock

Hong Kong to explore 11 use cases in phase 2 of e-HKD pilot

This phase of the HKMA’s digital currency programme will focus on efficiency and whether the e-HKD attracts and entices users, deputy CEO Howard Lee says.

Explainer | China’s 100-billion-yuan question: does government bond purchase shift policy?

Speculation is rife on what a US$14 billion treasury bond buy means for China’s money-supply mechanism, and whether the rare move equates to quantitative easing.

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Fed’s rate cut no panacea for China’s pain, but it helps ease pressure: analysts

Pressures facing China, including from capital outflows, could be allayed by start of US Federal Reserve’s rate-cutting cycle, but real stabilisation will take much more.

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Customers shop at a discount clothing shop in Beijing. A hitch in domestic demand has become a stumbling block for China’s economic growth. Photo: Reuters

Hong Kong interest rate cut gives small businesses ‘more room for survival’

Lower rates will not only reduce financing costs but revive investor confidence and spending sentiment, experts say.

A rising number of Hong Kong SMEs are struggling with cash flow, loss of business, and an exodus of investors and patrons. Photo: Jelly Tse

Editorial | US interest rate cut is welcome but many challenges remain for China

China – including Hong Kong – is not out of the woods yet, even with the 50 basis point reduction by America’s central bank.

Dump or buy more? China’s holding of US debt in spotlight after Fed’s rate cut

Continued diversification of reserve portfolio may be in order, but into what, and at what speed, are pressing questions.

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Hong Kong officials warn borrowers to stay vigilant amid high rates

The pace of cuts in the prime rate used by commercial banks ‘may be slower’ than those in the United States, warned Financial Secretary Paul Chan.

Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po at the Belt and Road Summit at HKCEC in Wan Chai on September 11, 2024. Photo: Eugene Lee

Will start of US rate cuts bring tailwinds to lift China’s economic sails?

US Federal Reserve officially kicked off a rate-cutting cycle by announcing a half a percentage point rate cut on Wednesday.

US Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell speaks during a news conference following the September meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee. Photo: Getty Images via AFP

Hong Kong banks trim prime rates halfway after Fed’s bold slash

For a typical HK$5 million, 30-year loan priced at prime minus 1.75 per cent, a quarter-point cut in prime rates will save mortgage borrowers HK$720 per month.

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US Fed slashes interest rates by half a point, first cut in 4 years

Central bank’s aggressive move follows a gradual reduction in US inflation and comes less than two months before election day.

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Central banks
News about policymaking in the world’s major central banks with a focus on the People’s Bank of China, the Federal Reserve, the European Central Bank, the Bank of England, the Bank of Japan and the Reserve Bank of Australia.
last updated:
9 September, 2024
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