HONG KONG - 2004-05-24
The Hong Kong Mortgage Corporation Limited (HKMC) revealed Monday that it will issue 20 billion HK dollars retail bonds.

The new issue will be split into three series of fixed rate bonds: two-year, three-year and four-year maturity with coupon per annum 2.50 percent, 3.15 percent and 3.55 percent respectively.

HKMC has appointed 19 banks as placing banks to distribute the debt securities to retail investors. The banks will also perform the role of market makers to facilitate transactions in the secondary market.

The offer period will be from May 25 to June 3.
Read the full story at Xinhua

Interest rates 'to rise to 5.25%' - 2004-05-24
Interest rates will increase to 5.25% by the end of the year, the Council of Mortgage Lenders forecasted today.

Director-general Michael Coogan stated: "We are not expecting a house price crash, we expect there to be a slowdown."

Mr Coogan said house price increases would continue to be above 10% this year, but they would slow down to 8% next year.
Read the full story at This is London