Cyprus Sees Sharp Rise In New Mortgage Lending In May As Deposit Rates Remain Among Eurozone’s Lowest

New mortgage lending in Cyprus rose sharply in May 2026, highlighting continued demand for housing finance despite elevated borrowing costs. Net new housing loans increased to €145.5 million from €106 million in April, according to the Central Bank of Cyprus.

Overall Lending Gains Momentum

Net new lending across all categories reached €361.9 million in May, up from €331.3 million a month earlier, reflecting stronger credit activity among both households and businesses.

Follow THE FUTURE on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and Telegram

Mortgage Rates Continue To Rise

The average interest rate on new housing loans increased to 4.06% in May from 3.73% in April, as demand for residential financing remained resilient despite higher borrowing costs.

Consumer And Small Business Lending Expand

Consumer lending also strengthened, with new loans rising to €23.9 million from €21.8 million in April.

Lending to non-financial corporations for amounts up to €1 million climbed to €63.4 million from €39.4 million, while loans exceeding €1 million declined to €121.5 million from €156.8 million, pointing to softer activity among larger corporate borrowers.

Borrowing Costs Show Mixed Trends

Interest rates moved in different directions across lending categories. Consumer loan rates eased to 6.95% from 7.19%, while rates on business loans of up to €1 million edged higher to 4.27%. The average rate on loans above €1 million fell to 3.85%.

Deposit rates also increased modestly. One-year household time deposits rose to 1.25% from 1.20%, while comparable deposits for non-financial corporations increased to 1.31% from 1.23%.

Deposit Rates Remain Among The Eurozone’s Lowest

According to the Central Bank of Cyprus, lending rates remain broadly in line with the euro area median. Deposit rates, however, continue to rank among the lowest in the eurozone, reflecting the banking sector’s strong liquidity position.

Borrowers Shift Toward Fixed-Rate Mortgages

Borrowers continued to favour longer fixed-rate mortgages in May. Loans with variable rates or an initial fixed-rate period of up to one year accounted for 17.8% of new housing lending, down from almost 100% at the beginning of 2022.

The shift reflects a growing preference for payment certainty as households adapt to a higher interest-rate environment.

The Future Forbes Realty Global Properties

Shein Targets $25 Billion Valuation In Hong Kong IPO As Growth Slows

by News Editor

August 17, 2026

Shein is reportedly targeting a valuation of around $25 billion in its planned Hong Kong IPO, a sharp decline from the nearly $100 billion valuation the online fashion retailer achieved in a 2022 fundraising round.

Two people familiar with the plans said the company was likely to target about $25 billion, while another source put the expected range at $25 billion to $28 billion based on the proposed price band.

Follow THE FUTURE on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and Telegram

IPO Valuation Falls Sharply

Shein plans to sell up to 8% of its shares in the offering, according to a person familiar with the plans. At a $25 billion valuation, that would translate into an IPO of as much as $2 billion.

The latest target is also below the $30 billion to $40 billion valuation the company was seeking earlier this month as it began meeting with potential investors.

Founded in China in 2012 and now headquartered in Singapore, Shein sells low-cost clothing to consumers in about 160 countries. The company is expected to launch its long-awaited Hong Kong IPO later this week.

Trade Restrictions Weigh On Growth

Shein’s valuation has come under pressure as major markets tighten rules affecting low-cost e-commerce shipments. The European Union, for example, has moved to impose additional fees on cheap parcels from platforms such as Shein and Temu. EU Tightens Rules On Low-Cost E-Commerce Parcels

In the U.S., the removal of an import duty exemption for small packages has also affected the company. Shein reported a $99 million quarterly loss in the first quarter of 2026 as sales growth slowed, while a one-time accounting charge further weighed on its results. Shein Reports First-Quarter Loss Ahead Of IPO

Investors Question Shein’s Growth Prospects

The steep reduction in valuation reflects growing concerns over slower growth, higher trade costs, regulatory pressure and stronger competition across global e-commerce.

Some investors who reviewed Shein’s recent financial statements or attended IPO presentations told Reuters they were skeptical that the company could return to the growth rates that supported its $98.2 billion valuation in 2022. Shein’s Slowing Growth Tests Investor Appetite

A lower IPO valuation could also affect Shein’s existing investors. Under the terms of its IPO filing, the company may have to issue additional shares to certain pre-IPO investors if its valuation falls below agreed thresholds.

Breaking news