Economics

Chinese Banks May Lower Lending Rates, Giving Relief to Economy

  • One-year loan prime rate may be cut from 3.7%, survey shows
  • Loan growth weakened sharply in April amid Covid lockdowns
Lock
This article is for subscribers only.

Chinese banks may cut their benchmark lending rates for a second time this year, giving consumers and businesses some relief as Covid lockdowns and outbreaks wreak havoc on the economy.

The one-year loan prime rate -- the de facto benchmark lending rate -- will likely be reduced by 5-10 basis points from 3.7% on Friday, according to 11 of 19 economists surveyed by Bloomberg. Seven of them see a cut to 3.65%, four predict 3.6% and the rest expect no change.