PRESS DIGEST - Hong Kong - April 8
HONG KONG, April 8 (Reuters) - These are some of the leading stories in Hong Kong newspapers on Wednesday. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
APPLE DAILY
-- The popularity of Chief Executive Donald Tsang has climbed up to a 10-month high, a survey by Hong Kong University showed.
MING PAO DAILY NEWS
-- Hong Kong lenders are slashing their mortgage loan rates to lure customers. Citibank (C.N) is offering prime-minus 2.85 percent -- a rate that is only 0.025 percent higher than the lowest level offered in recent years.
SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
-- Competition among Hong Kong developers intensify with Cheung Kong (0001.HK) offering flats at a Tin Shui Wai project 10 percent below secondary market prices, competing with rival New World Development (0017.HK), offering a Yuen Long project at up to 30 percent below secondary market prices in the area.
THE STANDARD
-- Pacific Century Regional Developments (PCEN.SI) - the parent company of Hong Kong phone operator PCCW (0008.HK) - is in talks with HSBC (0005.HK) on extending the repayment deadline for a loan taken out to finance the telco's privatisation, sources said.
HONG KONG DAILY NEWS
-- K Wah International (0173.HK), a regional property investor, said net losses reached HK$617 million ($79.6 million) for 2008.
SING PAO
-- Investor confidence in the Hong Kong market has dropped to its lowest point, according to JPMorgan Asset Management's latest quarterly survey. Most interviewed said they would invest conservatively.
TA KUNG PAO
-- Hong Kong conglomerate Hutchison Whampoa (0013.HK), which on Monday sold $1.5 billion in 10-year notes, aims to reduce its gearing within the next 12 months, the firm's finance director said.
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