Time to relax

7 December 2018 By Christopher Beddor

Wary of sending the wrong signal, Beijing has left its benchmark interest rate untouched since 2015. But central bankers eager to foster growth have other monetary policy levers they can pull, like interbank rates. A period of diplomatic calm gives them the space to do just that.

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The onshore yuan strengthened to less than 6.84 to the dollar on Dec. 4, its highest level since late September, after news that the United States would hold off imposing higher tariffs on $200 billion of Chinese goods to allow for trade negotiations. The yuan traded at 6.88 to the dollar at close of day on Dec. 6.

The governor of China’s central bank, Yi Gang, said in a magazine interview published on Dec. 3 that policymakers would seek to keep monetary policy flexible. The People’s Bank of China has cut the required reserve ratio for banks four times this year, in an effort to stimulate lending.

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