Headline: China Keeps Loan Prime Rates Unchanged for Sixth Straight Month
China maintained its benchmark lending rates in November, signaling a steady, cautious approach to monetary policy as the economy navigates uneven growth. The decision underscores policymakers’ focus on financial stability amid muted credit appetite and ongoing stress in the property sector.
The one-year Loan Prime Rate remains at 3.0%, the reference for most corporate and household borrowing, while the five-year LPR—key for mortgage pricing—stays at 3.5%. Holding rates steady for a sixth consecutive month suggests authorities are balancing support for lending with concerns about bank profit margins, potential capital outflows, and currency stability. With the 7-day repo rate at 1.4%, liquidity operations continue to anchor short-term funding costs.
While businesses and homebuyers benefit from a stable rate backdrop, the policy stance points to a preference for targeted easing tools and liquidity management over broad-based cuts. That approach aims to sustain credit flows without amplifying pressures on the banking system or financial markets, especially as the property market works through a prolonged adjustment.
Key Points: – One-year LPR held at 3.0%; five-year LPR at 3.5% for a sixth month – Policymakers maintain a cautious stance amid weak credit demand and property-sector headwinds – Concerns over bank margins, capital outflows, and currency stability weigh against further cuts – The 7-day repo rate stands at 1.4%, anchoring short-term market liquidity – Preference for targeted measures and liquidity operations over headline rate reductions – Stable mortgage and corporate borrowing rates support gradual economic stabilization
