The yuan was barely changed against the dollar yesterday, even as data showed China’s economic growth slipped to its weakest in nearly three decades, with traders saying the outcome was not a surprise.
The Chinese currency, which surged earlier this week to a two-month high on optimism over progress in Sino-US trade talks, is set for a second straight weekly gain. “Expectations for the GDP data were not very good, so the outcome was actually fine,” said a trader at a Chinese bank. “The yuan market was reacting more to the downside trend in the dollar index.” China’s economic growth slowed more than expected to 6.0% in the third quarter from a year earlier, the weakest pace in at least 27-1/2 years, as demand at home and abroad faltered.
However, the market and analysts took the downbeat data in stride.”While GDP was a tad below expectations, this series has been very stable so the market may not pay too much attention to it as long as it has not dipped below 6%,” said Frances Cheung, head of macro strategy for Asia at Westpac in Singapore.
Tommy Xie, head of China research at OCBC Bank in Singapore said the headline GDP data came in shy of expectations, but some key indicators suggested the economy remained resilient. “Fourth-quarter GDP will probably be around 6%.
This will give China 6.1% for the whole year, on track to achieve the target of double income by 2020,” Xie said, adding he sees no urgency for China to roll out “any imminent” easing measures.
Beijing has pledged to double its GDP and per capita income by 2020 from 2010.
Spot yuan opened at 7.0710 per dollar and was changing hands at 7.0777 yesterday, only 5 pips weaker than the previous late session close.
The global dollar index, a gauge that measures dollar strength against six other major currencies, hovered at a two-month low after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and European Union leaders agreed a new Brexit deal yesterday.
Optimism that US and Chinese negotiators were moving along on a trade deal also lifted sentiment.
China said on Thursday that it hoped to reach a phased trade agreement with the United States as soon as possible. “If a deal can be inked in mid-November as expected, then I think yuan may try 7,” OCBC’s Xie said.
US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are both scheduled to attend the summit of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) countries in Chile next month.
The yuan was barely changed against the dollar yesterday, even as data showed China’s growth slipped to its weakest in nearly three decades, with traders saying the outcome was not a surprise
