As previously reported, Morgan Stanley analysts led by Anil Agarwal and Magdalena Stoklosa downgraded HSBC to Equal Weight from Overweight and cut the price target on the London-listed shares to 690p from 740p. A recent pickup in HIBOR rates should help Q2 NIMs expand meaningfully for Hong Kong banks and elevated HIBOR levels could also translate into strong NIMs in Q3, unless HIBOR retraces quickly, the team said. However, they assume two Fed rate cuts by end-2020 and think lower NIMs due to lower Fed rates, as well as the launch of virtual banks, will hurt profitability, Agarwal and Stoklosa told investors in a research note on the Hong Kong financial group. The HKMA has licensed eight virtual banks, and these, particularly the ones backed by Chinese technology players, "are likely to compete fiercely," the analysts added.