🇨🇳 CHINA HOLDS INTEREST RATES STEADY DESPITE SLOWING ECONOMIC GROWTH, CONTINUES TO EASE MONETARY POLICY

🔹 The People's Bank of China maintains the 1-year lending rate at 3% and the 5-year rate at 3.5%, despite slowing economic growth

🔹 China's GDP grew only 4.5% in Q4/2025, the lowest since late 2022; nominal GDP below 4% for the third consecutive year, reflecting pressure on corporate profits and household income

🔹 Retail sales in December increased by only 0.9%, the lowest in 3 years, due to prolonged real estate crisis and weak labor market

🔹 Instead of directly cutting interest rates, the PBoC lowers the rates of targeted support tools, reducing capital costs for banks to promote credit to agriculture and small businesses

🔹 Chinese officials affirm they will maintain proactive fiscal policy and moderate monetary easing, while leaving open the possibility of further RRR and interest rate cuts this year#TariffTensionsHitCryptoMarket