The best lending rate at end-December, at 8.5 per cent, was 25 basis points below the pre-crisis level in June 1997 and at par with the current US prime rate.

• 十二月底，最优惠利率为8.；5厘，较一九九七年六月亚洲金融危机前的水平低25基点，与目前美国最优惠贷款利率相同。