In the Media

At the beginning of 2022, high inflation was the top priority for the U.S. economy. By the second quarter of 2025, although inflation had significantly decreased, it remained slightly above the Federal Reserve's long-term target of 2%. The Federal Open Market Committee has been implementing various measures aimed at bringing inflation back down to the 2% long-term target. However, recent policy changes by the U.S. government have added uncertainty to the economic outlook and the formulation of monetary policy. This article provides a brief analysis of the U.S. economic conditions and the direction of monetary policy in the second quarter of 2025.

In a recent interview with Wen Wei Po, Prof. Michael B. Wong, Assistant Professor in Economics, Management and Strategy at HKU Business School, suggested that improving the quality of Home Ownership Scheme (HOS) flats could provide a key incentive for property ownership. He argued that the convergence in quality between public rental housing (PRH) and HOS flats is a major policy design flaw. As PRH is intended to provide basic shelter for low-income groups, HOS flats should be of superior quality to attract tenants to move up the housing ladder.

The pressure on Hong Kong’s catering industry is unprecedented: rising rents, wages, and ingredient costs are squeezing profit margins, while increasing labor costs make it difficult to recruit and retain staff. Consumer spending is shifting northwards, and tourist spending has yet to fully recover. The entry of mainland brands has intensified competition. The macroeconomic outlook is uncertain, and consumer preferences are changing, with people becoming more frugal. In an effort to turn things around, some groups have launched promotions at several of their upscale restaurants.

When institutional investors cast their votes against company directors, they increasingly do something that was once rare: they explain why. These "voting rationales" — brief written explanations accompanying dissenting votes — are emerging as a surprisingly effective tool for driving corporate governance reform, according to new research analyzing nearly 800,000 such disclosures.

Is America's 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act' a masterpiece or a misstep?According to Dr Y.F. Luk, Honorary Associate Professor at HKU Business School, this new policy comes at a steep price. He explained that while the 870-page bill makes tax cuts permanent, it pays for them by slashing vital medical and food subsidies.

The 7th "Hong Kong University China Economic Quarterly Forum" series of events was recently held. Prof. Heiwai Tang, Associate Dean of HKU Business School and Director of the Asia Global Institute, delivered a keynote speech titled "The New Pattern of the Asian Economy under Geopolitics." Prof. Tang believes that in the next decade of "globalization," economic interactions between countries will become more fragmented, digitalized, and regionalized, with the world transitioning toward multipolarity. The brand-new "globalization" may possibly occur without the participation of the United States.

In the era of online shopping, the so-called "no discounts for old customers or dogs" policy often leaves loyal consumers feeling helpless. Many e-commerce platforms implement a "one person, one price" strategy, and even tailor prices based on users' purchasing habits and browsing histories, causing different consumers to pay different prices for the same product. In addition, airline ticket prices fluctuate constantly, with the phenomenon of "the more you search, the more expensive it gets" becoming the norm.

In recent years, the global financial markets have been turbulent, with Bitcoin’s price fluctuations resembling a rollercoaster—attracting investors in pursuit of high returns. However, in this vast digital ocean, most enterprises and investors are not seeking adventure, but rather a safe haven for investment.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly becoming a core technology for optimizing efficiency and driving innovation, with wide applications in fields such as healthcare, business operations, and public safety. However, like the other side of a coin, it also provides opportunities for criminals. As AI technology becomes increasingly sophisticated, criminal organizations are using it for hacking attacks, fraud, video forgery for extortion, and the spread of misinformation, making it difficult for people to defend against such threats.