Hong Kong home prices rise for second month, up 1.3% in February

Over the past decade, ultra low interest rates, limited housing supply and large capital flows from mainland Chinese buyers have pushed housing prices up more than 200 per cent. PHOTO: REUTERS

HONG KONG (REUTERS) - Hong Kong private home prices rebounded for the second straight month in February, rising 1.3 per cent on solid demand and easing expectations for a further interest rate hike this year.

The February price gain in one of the world's least affordable property markets compared to January's revised 0.25 per cent increase, government data showed on Friday.

The February increase was higher than expected, said property consultancy Knight Frank, adding it now expected home prices to drop 5 per cent this year compared to its previous forecast for a 10 per cent fall.

"The current market is relatively stable, but it's too early to say whether the prices have bottomed out yet," said Thomas Lam, executive director of Knight Frank.

Hong Kong home prices fell from August to December last year after rising for 28 consecutive months.

Over the past decade, ultra low interest rates, limited housing supply and large capital flows from mainland Chinese buyers have pushed housing prices up more than 200 per cent.

In February, a flat of 60 square metres (646 square feet) on Hong Kong Island cost an average of HK$10.58 million (S$1.83 million), according to official data.

Not all analysts believe the city is facing a correction in prices this year.

JP Morgan Asia Pacific equity research managing director Cusson Leung said he expected a 5 to 7 per cent rise from current levels, supported by improved liquidity.

"The two corrections in the Hong Kong property market over the last three years were both driven by a decline in the Hong Kong monetary base, which we believe is unlikely to happen this year," he said.

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