HSBC, Standard Chartered, BOCHK cut prime rates for first time since December

Core Viewpoint - Hong Kong's three note-issuing banks, HSBC, Standard Chartered, and Bank of China (Hong Kong), are reducing their prime lending rates for the first time since December, which will lower funding costs and provide relief to businesses and mortgage borrowers in the city [1][2]. Group 1: Rate Adjustments - HSBC and Bank of China (Hong Kong) will lower their prime lending rates by 12.5 basis points to 5.125% effective Friday and Monday respectively, while Standard Chartered will cut its rate to 5.375% from Monday [2]. - All three banks will also reduce their savings rates by the same margin to 0.125% [2]. Group 2: Monetary Policy Context - The banks' rate cuts follow the Hong Kong Monetary Authority's (HKMA) decision to reduce its base rate by a quarter point, aligning with the US Federal Reserve's overnight cut [4]. - The HKMA's actions are part of a peg-linked system, but Hong Kong's commercial lenders independently determine their prime lending and deposit rates [4]. Group 3: Impact on Borrowers - HSBC's Hong Kong CEO stated that the adjustments are appropriate given the US rates decision and local market conditions, noting that HSBC has lowered its Hong Kong dollar best lending rate by 75 basis points since September 2024 [5]. - For a HK$5 million, 30-year loan priced at prime minus 1.75%, the 12.5-basis-point cut reduces the effective mortgage rate to 3.375%, lowering the monthly payment by HK$347 to HK$22,105 [5]. - As of the end of July, Hong Kong homebuyers had HK$1.887 trillion in outstanding mortgage loans, with an average mortgage size of HK$4.51 million [6].