Group 1 - UBS downgraded the investment rating of Hongkong Electric Holdings (02638) from "Buy" to "Neutral" while maintaining the target price at HKD 6, citing a year-to-date stock price increase of 20%, outperforming Hong Kong utility stocks by approximately 16 percentage points, indicating that the current price reflects its defensive nature [1] - The firm anticipates that as the US enters a rate-cutting cycle, the yield on the US 10-year Treasury is expected to decline from the current 4.1% to 3.8% by the end of 2025 and to 3.4% by the end of 2026, which may lead to a recovery in risk appetite and a shift of funds towards growth stocks, diminishing the appeal of defensive stocks like Hongkong Electric [1] - Currently, Hongkong Electric's forward dividend yield stands at 5.3%, with a premium of 115 basis points over the US 10-year Treasury yield, which is more than one standard deviation below the historical average; the premium over the industry average is only 11 basis points, also below the historical average of 89 basis points, with profit forecasts for 2025 to 2027 aligning with market expectations [1] Group 2 - In comparison, Cheung Kong Infrastructure Holdings (01038) presents a more attractive valuation, with regulatory adjustments in the UK and Australia, as well as potential mergers and acquisitions, offering additional growth opportunities [1]

Group 1 - Morgan Asset Management's Chief Market Strategist for Asia Pacific, Xu Changtai, predicts that with the Federal Reserve entering a rate-cutting cycle and the expectation of a depreciating US dollar, funds may flow into emerging markets, benefiting the Hong Kong A-share market [1] - Xu estimates that the Hong Kong Interbank Offered Rate (HIBOR) will continue to have room for decline, potentially more than expected, which will positively impact the Hong Kong residential property market, with a better environment anticipated in 2026 compared to this year [1] - The Federal Reserve is expected to cut rates by 0.25% in both October and December of this year, with further cuts of 2-3 times in 2026, bringing the long-term federal funds rate down to a neutral level of 3% [1] Group 2 - Historical data suggests that during previous rate-cutting cycles, such as in 2019, US stock performance was strong, leading to a preference for technology-related sectors, while retail and industrial stocks are expected to be more volatile [2] - The US dollar is currently stable, but with the US facing fiscal and trade deficits and entering a rate-cutting cycle, alongside Europe nearing the end of its rate cuts and Japan potentially raising rates, a depreciation of the dollar is anticipated, estimated at 5-7% over the next 12-18 months [2]