{
  "id": 7978381,
  "title": "Hong Kong Monetary Authority raises rate for first time in three years",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/hong-kong-monetary-authority-raises-rate-for-first-time-in-three-years",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-09-17T06:14:45.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Business Times - Companies & Markets",
    "slug": "the-business-times-companies-markets",
    "url": "https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/banking-finance/hong-kong-monetary-authority-raises-rate-first-time-three-years"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) increased its base interest rate by 25 basis points to 4.25% on Thursday, September 17, matching a rate hike by the US Federal Reserve. This is the first increase for the HKMA since July 2023. Hong Kong's currency is pegged to the US dollar within a narrow band of 7.75 to 7.85 per dollar. Major banks HSBC, StanChart, and Bank of China maintained their best lending rates and savings deposit rates unchanged at 5% and 5.25% respectively. HKMA CEO Eddie Yue stated that the interest rate differential between the Hong Kong dollar and US dollar will widen, potentially leading to a further easing of the Hong Kong dollar towards the lower end of its band.",
  "summary": "HSBC and StanChart say they will keep best lending rates in Hong Kong unchanged",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Vietnam Investment Review",
        "title": "WRISE Prestige asset management jumps 927 percent in Hong Kong",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/wrise-prestige-asset-management-jumps-927-percent-in-hong-kong",
        "published": "2026-09-17T04:39:51.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "SCMP Business",
        "title": "How Hong Kong’s new 5-year plan courts global capital with an eye on market dominance",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/how-hong-kongs-new-5-year-plan-courts-global-capital-with-an-eye-on",
        "published": "2026-09-17T07:00:09.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}