--HSBC chief economist says Hong Kong dollar "extremely expensive"
--HSBC chief economist sees yen hitting 120 per euro this year
--HSBC chief economist says yen "won't collapse" vs. USD in 2001
--HSBC chief economist sees '01 Fed rate cuts of at least 150 bps
--HSBC chief economist sees Hong Kong '01 GDP growth down to 3.4%
--HSBC chief economist says rate cuts won't help Hong Kong much
By Michael Gulyaev, BridgeNews
Hong Kong--Jan. 18--The Japanese yen this year will fall by 30% against the euro and hit a level of 120 to the European single currency, Hong Kong Shanghai Banking Corporation's chief economist Geoffrey Barker predicted Thursday at the HSBC Asian Outlook seminar. Barker added that the yen "won't collapse" against the U.S. dollar this year. He also said he expects the U.S. Federal Reserve's interest rate cuts this year would amount to at least 150 basis points.