China cuts rates, gives lenders more freedom

With inflation likely to accelerate central bank tapering programmes and feed earlier interest rate hikes, could a dwindling fiat system drive cryptocurrency appeal?

Outstanding mortgage rates for individual borrowers will be cut by 0.5%, potentially helping around 50 million households, while the reserve requirement ratio (RRR) for most banks will also be cut by 0.5%.

The country is taking measures through trade, finance and monetary policy to spur growth amid numerous challenges.

Hong Kong-based Dr. Xiangrong Yu takes on responsibility for the bank’s views on China’s economy and policy. He shares with FA his thoughts on last week’s move by the PBOC’s to offer a RMB 1 trillion fiscal boost, as well as his concerns around inflation in 2H22.

Japan's borrowing costs hit a 30-year high after the US Fed chair used more hawkish rhetoric; oil prices are up again as hostilities resume in the Middle East.

While the Bank of Japan (BoJ) continues to print money and buy bonds, despite the bank's first rate hike since 2007, the Bank of Singapore believes that the country's stock market rally will continue.