Bloomberg Chinese lenders followed the central bank by keeping their benchmark lending rates unchanged on Monday, with analysts expecting possible reductions in coming months to support the economic recovery. The one-year loan prime rate was held at 3.65% for a sixth consecutive month, in line with the forecasts from all 13 economists surveyed by Bloomberg. The five-year rate, a reference …

  Bloomberg Standard Chartered Plc plans to hire 300 to 500 staff in Hong Kong this year, in anticipation of an increase in wealth management and lending as the city reopened its borders to mainland China. The lender expects “double-digit” growth in wealth management income and “single-digit” loan growth, according to a spokeswoman. The lender’s headcount in Hong Kong has …

Bloomberg Bofa Securities Inc. is predicting more gains for the Indian rupee in the near term, joining Citigroup Inc., as the narrowest trade deficit in a year augurs well for the nation’s external finances. “The recent correction in rupee valuation and near-term improvement in current-account and capital flows tilt the risk-reward in favour of rupee appreciation,” Abhay Gupta, a strategist …