China loosens currency controls on the yuan

China loosens currency controls on the yuan

China has loosened its currency controls in a move that may spur gains in the value of the yuan.


From Monday, the yuan can fluctuate up to 1% in trading against the US dollar, up from the previous limit of 0.5%, the People's Bank of China said. The increase of the trading band was announced in English, a rare statement that suggests it was targeted at foreign audiences.China has been under pressure to let the yuan appreciate.

Nations like the US believe that China keeps the yuan artificially low to boost its exports, giving it an unfair trading edge.The PBOC said on Saturday that the band was increased to "meet market demands, promote price discovery, enhance the flexibility of RMB (yuan) exchange rate in both directions".

China's yuan was fixed against the dollar until 2005, when it was lifted and allowed to float 0.5% against a basket of currencies each day.Since then, the yuan has risen 31% against the dollar - to about 6.30 yuan at the moment.

Last month, China and and Australia signed a currency swap agreement in a bid to promote bilateral trade and investment.It will allow for the exchange of local currencies between their central banks, worth up to 30bn Australian dollars ($31bn; £20bn) over three years.

The deal is expected to reduce cost for businesses, as they will be able to settle trade terms in local currency.It is the latest in a series of similar deals signed by Beijing as it seeks a more global role for the yuan

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