Corporates rush to lock in low rates

Singapore

THE plunge in local interest rates to a five-month low has led to a rush of companies selling debt, including the year's first retail bond offering.

Currency players say that home buyers might want to emulate these companies and lock in borrowing costs for the next 2-3 years as the fall in interest rates, which is due to the sharp decline of the US dollar since peaking this year in January, could be temporary.