Hong Kong central bank raises rates after Fed hike; HSBC follows

THE Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) said on Thursday (Dec 15) it would raise its base rate charged through the overnight discount window by 50 basis points to 4.75 per cent, hours after the US Federal Reserve delivered a rate hike of the same margin.

The US central bank raised interest rates by half a percentage point and projected at least an additional 75 basis points of increases in borrowing costs by the end of 2023, as well as a rise in unemployment and a near-stalling of economic growth.

“(The) rate hike in the US will not affect the financial and monetary stability of Hong Kong,” HKMA chief executive Eddie Yue told reporters. “Our monetary and financial markets continue to operate in a smooth and orderly manner. The linked exchange rate system also continues to work well.”

Hong Kong’s monetary policy moves in lockstep with US policy, as the city’s currency is pegged to the greenback in a tight range of 7.75 to 7.85 per dollar.

HSBC tracked the rate hike, saying it was raising its best lending rate in Hong Kong by 25 basis points to 5.625 per cent effective Dec 16.

The market generally expects the US dollar interest rate to continue to rise, and together with an increase in Hong Kong dollar funding demand driven by seasonal requirements and the local stock market, the Hong Kong dollar interbank rates might remain at elevated levels for some time, HKMA said.

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“The public should be prepared for the likelihood that banks’ deposit and lending rates may go up further, and should carefully assess and manage the relevant risks when making property purchases, taking out mortgages or making other borrowing decisions,” Yue added.

Hong Kong’s private home prices have fallen 10.5 per cent in the first 10 months of this year. October prices were down 2.4 per cent in the biggest drop since November 2018, hit by rising interest rates and a pessimistic economic outlook. REUTERS