China Cuts Lending Benchmarks to Revive Faltering Economy

The headquarters of the People’s Bank of China, the Chinese central bank, in Beijing, on Aug. 7, 2011. Mark RalstonAFP/Getty Images

SHANGHAI—China cut its benchmark lending rate and lowered the mortgage reference by a bigger margin on Monday, adding to last week’s easing measures, as Beijing boosts efforts to revive an economy hobbled by a property crisis and a resurgence of COVID-19 cases.

The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) is walking a tight rope in its efforts to revive growth. Offering too much of stimulus could add to inflation pressures and risk capital flight as the Federal Reserve and other economies raise interest rates aggressively.