China's yuan reversed gains and touched the weakest level in 16 months after a private report showed the nation's factory output is still contracting.

A preliminary reading for the Purchasing Managers' Index for manufacturing was at 48.3 in April, up from a final 48 in March, HSBC Holdings Plc and Markit Economics reported today. The figure, which was below the dividing line of between expansion and contraction, matched the median estimate in a Bloomberg News survey of economists.

The yuan declined 0.08 percent to 6.2427 per dollar as of 10:33 a.m. in Shanghai, China Foreign Exchange Trading System prices show. It touched 6.2465 earlier today, the weakest level since Dec. 14, 2012. The currency is down 3 percent in 2014, the worst performance in Asia, after gaining for a fourth straight year in 2013.

This article is for general information purposes only. It is not investment advice or a solution to buy or sell securities.

Opinions are the authors — not necessarily OANDA’s, its officers or directors. OANDA’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy apply. Leveraged trading is high risk and not suitable for all. You could lose all of your deposited funds.

Recommended Content


Recommended Content

Editors’ Picks

EUR/USD holds gains above 1.0700, as key US data loom

EUR/USD holds gains above 1.0700, as key US data loom

EUR/USD holds gains above 1.0700 in the European session on Thursday. Renewed US Dollar weakness offsets the risk-off market environment, supporting the pair ahead of the key US GDP and PCE inflation data. 

EUR/USD News

GBP/USD extends recovery above 1.2500, awaits US GDP data

GBP/USD extends recovery above 1.2500, awaits US GDP data

GBP/USD is catching a fresh bid wave, rising above 1.2500 in European trading on Thursday. The US Dollar resumes its corrective downside, as traders resort to repositioning ahead of the high-impact US advance GDP data for the first quarter. 

GBP/USD News

Gold price edges higher amid weaker USD and softer risk tone, focus remains on US GDP

Gold price edges higher amid weaker USD and softer risk tone, focus remains on US GDP

Gold price (XAU/USD) attracts some dip-buying in the vicinity of the $2,300 mark on Thursday and for now, seems to have snapped a three-day losing streak, though the upside potential seems limited. 

Gold News

XRP extends its decline, crypto experts comment on Ripple stablecoin and benefits for XRP Ledger

XRP extends its decline, crypto experts comment on Ripple stablecoin and benefits for XRP Ledger

Ripple extends decline to $0.52 on Thursday, wipes out weekly gains. Crypto expert asks Ripple CTO how the stablecoin will benefit the XRP Ledger and native token XRP. 

Read more

US Q1 GDP Preview: Economic growth set to remain firm in, albeit easing from Q4

US Q1 GDP Preview: Economic growth set to remain firm in, albeit easing from Q4

The United States Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is seen expanding at an annualized rate of 2.5% in Q1. The current resilience of the US economy bolsters the case for a soft landing. 

Read more

Majors

Cryptocurrencies

Signatures