Residential mortgage survey results for February 2018
*****************************************************

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) announced the results of the residential mortgage survey for February 2018.
      
     The number of mortgage applications in February decreased month-on-month by 21.2 per cent to 11,166.  
      
     Mortgage loans approved in February decreased by 14.7 per cent compared with January to HK$32.5 billion. Among these, mortgage loans financing primary market transactions decreased by 18.2 per cent to HK$5.4 billion and those financing secondary market transactions decreased by 13.2 per cent to HK$19.8 billion. Mortgage loans for refinancing decreased by 16.2 per cent to HK$7.2 billion. 
      
     Mortgage loans drawn down during February decreased by 23.3 per cent compared with January to HK$21.1 billion. 
      
     The ratio of new mortgage loans priced with reference to HIBOR decreased from 86.2 per cent in January to 68.4 per cent in February. The ratio of new mortgage loans priced at fixed rates increased from 8.8% in January to 27.6 per cent in February.
      
     The outstanding value of mortgage loans increased month-on-month by 0.4 per cent to HK$1,218.5 billion at end-February. 
      
     The mortgage delinquency ratio remained unchanged at 0.02 per cent and the rescheduled loan ratio remained unchanged at nearly 0 per cent.
 

Ends/Thursday, March 29, 2018
Issued at HKT 16:45

NNNN