The People's Bank of China (PBOC) has announced a 0.25 percentage point reduction in interest rates for various structural monetary policy instruments, effective January 15. The one-year rediscount loan rate will decrease to 1.25%, with similar adjustments for other terms. This move aims to enhance structural instruments and bolster economic transformation efforts. Deputy Governor Zou Lan indicated that there is potential for further interest rate and reserve requirement ratio cuts in 2026. The current average statutory deposit reserve ratio stands at 6.3%, suggesting room for reduction. With the RMB exchange rate stable and the U.S. dollar in a rate-cutting cycle, external constraints are minimal. Internally, banks' net interest margins have stabilized since 2025, and the maturity of long-term deposits in 2026 could further facilitate rate cuts.