Economic Buzz: China leaves loan prime rates unchanged
The PBOC left its one-year LPR at 3.6%, while the five-year LPR, which is used to set mortgage rates, was left at 3.1%. Both rates were at record lows, following a slew of cuts over the past three years.
The LPR is determined by the PBOC based on considerations from 18 designated commercial banks, and is used as a benchmark for lending rates in the country.
But the PBOC now has limited headroom to further cut the LPR, especially given that its monetary easing measures have so far provided only fleeting support to the economy.
Lower interest rates also weighed on the Chinese yuan, with Beijing's discomfort over further yuan weakness further limiting the PBOC's ability to cut rates.
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