PBOC sets USD/CNY reference rate at 6.8175 vs. 6.8166 previous

Lallalit Srijandorn FXStreet

On Monday, the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) sets the USD/CNY central rate for the trading session ahead at 6.8175 compared to the previous day's fix of 6.8166 and 6.8041 Reuters estimate.

PBOC FAQs

What does the People's Bank of China do?

The primary monetary policy objectives of the People's Bank of China (PBoC) are to safeguard price stability, including exchange rate stability, and promote economic growth. China’s central bank also aims to implement financial reforms, such as opening and developing the financial market.

Who owns the PBoC?

The PBoC is owned by the state of the People's Republic of China (PRC), so it is not considered an autonomous institution. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Committee Secretary, nominated by the Chairman of the State Council, has a key influence on the PBoC’s management and direction, not the governor. However, Mr. Pan Gongsheng currently holds both of these posts.

What are the main policy tools used by the PBoC?

Unlike the Western economies, the PBoC uses a broader set of monetary policy instruments to achieve its objectives. The primary tools include a seven-day Reverse Repo Rate (RRR), Medium-term Lending Facility (MLF), foreign exchange interventions and Reserve Requirement Ratio (RRR). However, The Loan Prime Rate (LPR) is China’s benchmark interest rate. Changes to the LPR directly influence the rates that need to be paid in the market for loans and mortgages and the interest paid on savings. By changing the LPR, China’s central bank can also influence the exchange rates of the Chinese Renminbi.

Are private banks allowed in China?

Yes, China has 19 private banks – a small fraction of the financial system. The largest private banks are digital lenders WeBank and MYbank, which are backed by tech giants Tencent and Ant Group, per The Straits Times. In 2014, China allowed domestic lenders fully capitalized by private funds to operate in the state-dominated financial sector.

Author

Lallalit Srijandorn

FXStreet

Lallalit Srijandorn is a Parisian at heart. She has lived in France since 2019 and now becomes a digital entrepreneur based in Paris and Bangkok.

AUD/USD bounces back toward 0.6950 on fresh USD supply

AUD/USD bounces back toward 0.6950 in the Asian session on Friday. The US Dollar retreats from 17-month highs as traders take profits off the table ahead of the all-important US Nonfarm Payrolls report. Meanwhile, the Australian Dollar draws support from reviving expectations of a November interest rate hike amid elevated global yields and inflation risks.

USD/JPY struggles near 158.00 as USD retreats ahead of NFP

USD/JPY is struggling for fresh impetus near 158.00, moving away from the top end of its weekly range in the Asian session on Friday, after hotter-than-expected Tokyo CPI and amid a broad US Dollar retreat. Traders reposition themselves ahead of US Nonfarm Payrolls.

Gold remains capped below $4,200 as traders await US NFP for Fed rate cuts

Gold extends its sideways move on Friday, trading below the $4,200 mark heading into the European session as traders await the release of US employment details. The US Nonfarm Payrolls report is expected to show that the economy added only 90K jobs in September, down from the previous month's reading of 162K.

Pi Network retreats to key support level as selling pressure resurfaces

Pi Network price remains volatile in the near term, hovering around $0.0900 at press time on Friday after losing over 3% the previous day. The pullback warns of a steeper correction, with a risk of breaking below a rising wedge pattern on the four-hour chart. Pi Network struggles to maintain a steady recovery as the price remains capped below the $0.1000 psychological barrier.

US Nonfarm Payrolls expected to soften in September

The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics is set to release September Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP) data on Friday at 12:30 GMT. Investors expect NFP to rise by 90K in September following August’s impressive 162K increase. The Unemployment Rate is seen holding steady at 4.1%, while the monthly wage inflation, as measured by the change in Average Hourly Earnings, is projected to hold steady at 0.3%.

Markets are pricing a Fed pause. The jobs data says the hike is still coming

The market has rapidly changed its mind about the Federal Reserve (Fed). Only a week ago, investors saw an October interest-rate hike as the most likely outcome. However, softer inflation and cautious comments from policymakers have since turned a pause into the dominant scenario. Yet beneath that dramatic repricing, the US economy is sending a considerably less dovish message.