China's one-year loan prime rate (LPR), a market-based benchmark lending rate, came in at 3.1 percent Thursday, remaining unchanged from the previous month, the National Interbank Funding Center announced on Thursday.
The over-five-year LPR, on which many lenders base their mortgage rates, also remained unchanged from the previous reading of 3.6 percent, according to the center.
The LPRs reflect the level of financing costs for households and businesses, with lower rates meaning less burdens on borrowers and stronger support for economic activity.
In 2024, the People's Bank of China (PBOC), the central bank, guided the LPR downward while implementing two reductions in both the reserve requirement ratios (RRRs) and policy interest rates to help sustain economic recovery.
The latest official data show that the weighted average interest rate for new business loans fell to about 3.3 percent in February, down 40 basis points from a year earlier, while the rate for new personal mortgages dropped to around 3.1 percent, a decline of 70 basis points.
According to this year's government work report approved at an annual session of the National People's Congress earlier this month, China has decided to adopt a moderately loose monetary policy.
The central bank will cut RRRs and interest rates when appropriate this year, in line with domestic and international economic and financial conditions, as well as the performance of financial markets, PBOC governor Pan Gongsheng told a press conference in early March.
The average RRR for China's financial institutions now stands at 6.6 percent, offering room for further reduction, Pan said, adding that there is also room to lower the interest rates of structural monetary policy tools, which provide liquidity support to commercial banks.
China's loan prime rates remain unchanged
The Iranian government is focusing on public concerns and maintaining stable supplies of essential goods amid recent protests, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a televised interview on Sunday.
In the city of Karaj, northwest of the capital Tehran, daily life has largely continued as normal. A video filmed by a local resident on Sunday shows food stores open and grocery shelves fully stocked.
"This is the block near my home, and there are some food stores here. Daily life continues here. Last night we did not see many protests in Karaj. Right now the city is very safe. This is a grocery store close to my home. All the food is available; nothing is in shortage. Here are noodles and different types of beans. Here are dairy products, cheese, and yogurt. I also checked other grocery stores and didn't see any shortages. Everything is available," said local resident Ali Reza.
Iranian officials have described recent disturbances as acts orchestrated by the "enemy," including some carried out by well-trained and armed "terrorists." The incidents have caused casualties among security personnel and civilians, as well as property damage.
The Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani has directed authorities to severely punish the "terrorists."
Meanwhile, Iran's police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan said on Sunday that the police had raised alert levels and arrested several leaders of the troublemakers during the operations on Saturday.
President Pezeshkian noted in the interview that the normal demands of the Iranian people are reasonable and justified, but they must realize that triggering riots and carrying out terrorist acts are the enemy's attempts to undermine the country. He urged the public to remain vigilant.
Also on Sunday, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned that Tehran would regard U.S. and Israeli bases and facilities in the Middle East as "legitimate targets" if Washington takes military action against Iran. His remarks followed media reports saying U.S. President Donald Trump is "seriously considering authorizing a strike" against Iran.
Iranian state media reported that at least 109 members of Iran's security forces have been killed in clashes since the protests began 14 days ago. Meanwhile, human rights groups based outside the country said the number of protesters killed has exceeded 200, though the figure could not be independently verified.
The protests initially erupted over a sharp depreciation of the rial and sweeping subsidy reforms. Iranian authorities have blamed the unrest on foreign-linked agents and sanctions imposed by the United States.
Iranian president says government focusing on ensuring supplies amid protests
