The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) kept its base rate unchanged at 4.0% on January 29, 2026, following the U.S. Federal Reserve’s decision hours earlier to hold its target range at 3%–3.75%. Set via the overnight discount window, the move underscores Hong Kong’s tight policy alignment with the U.S. under the Linked Exchange Rate System, which pegs the local dollar at 7.75–7.85. As a result, domestic rates largely track U.S. policy regardless of local conditions. The decision came amid signs of recovery in the city's economy, where housing prices rose for the seventh straight month in December and gained 3% in 2025, the first annual outperformance in four years. In Q3 2025, economic growth accelerated to 3.8% yoy from 3.1% in Q2, the fastest pace in nearly two years, supported by resilient consumption, steady exports, and a rebound in tourism.
