Central bank's net forex sales narrow in May
Xinhua, June 15, 2016 Adjust font size:
China's central bank saw its yuan funds outstanding for foreign exchange drop 53.7 billion yuan (8.2 billion U.S. dollars) to 23.7 trillion yuan in May, data showed on Wednesday.
The fall was less than the 54.4 billion-yuan decline in April, suggesting less pressure of capital flight.
As the Chinese currency is not freely convertible under the capital account, the central bank has to purchase foreign currency generated by China's trade surplus and foreign investment in the country, adding funds to the money market. Such funds are an important indicator for foreign capital flow in and out of China as well as domestic yuan liquidity.
Concerns about capital outflows had been on the rise as the economy slowed, and the Chinese currency had fallen since China revamped its forex mechanism last year.
Stability in international financial markets and positive signs in the domestic economy have reduced the pressure of capital outflow since the start of this year. Endi