Hong Kong property deals surge anew in September on rate cut, buoyant stocks

Core Insights - Hong Kong property sales in September experienced an increase in both the number of transactions and total value, driven by easing interest rates and a recovering stock market [1][2][3] Sales Performance - The total number of property deals, including new and lived-in homes, office spaces, shops, car parking slots, and industrial units, rose by 6.2% month-on-month to 6,862 units in September, with the total value increasing by 14% to HK$54.35 billion (approximately US$6.98 billion) [2] - Ricacorp Properties projected that property sales in September would reach 6,883 transactions, with the value of deals increasing by 13% to HK$54.5 billion [4] Market Sentiment - The easing of interest rates and the rise of the Hang Seng Index to a four-year high contributed to improved sentiment in the property market, alongside relaxed investment immigration requirements [3][5] - The rebound in property sales indicates a stabilization in the local market, with lived-in home prices increasing by 1.26% since April and home rents rising by 1.12%, marking the largest increment in 14 months [5] Interest Rate Impact - Following a 25-basis point rate cut by the US Federal Reserve, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority also reduced the prime lending rates by 12.5 basis points for major banks [6] Stock Market Correlation - The stock market saw a 220% increase in funds raised from new share sales, reinforcing its position in global initial public offering rankings, which is correlated with local property sales despite a typical lag [7] - Affluent buyers have begun reallocating profits from the stock market into luxury home purchases [7]