戴德梁行：今日全球楼市速览(2010.04.16)

4.The State Council took tough steps to cool down the mainland property market yesterday, raising mortgage rates and down payment requirements while increasing the land supply, after property prices rose at a record pace last month. The cabinet meeting, chaired by Premier Wen Jiabao, ordered banks to raise minimum mortgage rates on second homes to 1.1 times the central bank's benchmark lending rate instead of the current 80 per cent. The down payment on first homes of more than 90 square metres will be raised to 30 per cent from the current 20 per cent, while buyers of second homes will have to pay 50 per cent, up from 40 per cent. Banks were also told to increase down payment ratios and rates for third homes, but details were not given.  (SCMP).

5. Shui On Land, the Shanghai- based developer controlled by Hong Kong billionaire Vincent Lo Hong-sui, saw its 2009 profit rise 48 percent as economic growth in China lifted home sales and prices. Net income was 2.67 billion yuan (HK$3.03 billion), or 0.55 yuan a share, compared with a restated 1.8 billion yuan, or 0.39 yuan, a year earlier. Sales more than tripled to 6.79 billion yuan from a restated 2.07 billion yuan. (The Standard).