OCBC Bank Chief Economist Selena Ling stated that the global economy is currently in a more synchronized loose monetary policy, but the risk of a US economic recession has not completely disappeared. Before the results of the US presidential election are announced, global financial markets and real economies will continue to face a series of uncertainties. It is anticipated that US-China competition will continue in 2025.
OCBC Bank predicts that China's GDP will grow by about 5% for the whole year, while Hong Kong's GDP will grow by around 2.3%, consistent with the bank's forecast announced in May of this year. The bank also expects that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates by a total of 50 basis points starting this month (September). The Bank of England and the European Central Bank are expected to follow suit by the end of this year with separate cuts of 50 basis points each.
OCBC Bank (Hong Kong) economic expert Cindy Keung believes that at present, Hong Kong dollar liquidity is relatively abundant, coupled with weak loan demand, the downward range of the best lending rate (P) in Hong Kong is limited. If the Federal Reserve cuts interest rates by 50 to 100 basis points within the year, it is expected that the Hong Kong lending rate will follow suit and decrease by 25 to 37.5 basis points.
She also pointed out that in the past, Hong Kong's property market usually tends towards stability when entering an interest rate reduction cycle. Although Hong Kong's economy continues to show signs of recovery, local banks in Hong Kong still need to change their cautious loan approval attitude for the Hong Kong property market to exhibit a stronger rebound.