| China continues to over value the dollar { April 2007 } Original Source Link: (May no longer be active) http://www.forbes.com/markets/feeds/afx/2007/05/20/afx3739986.htmlhttp://www.forbes.com/markets/feeds/afx/2007/05/20/afx3739986.html
AFX News Limited Forex - Dollar mixed in Sydney morning after China's currency move, rate hike 05.20.07, 9:44 PM ET
SYDNEY (XFN-ASIA) - The US dollar was slightly firmer against the yen but easier against the euro in morning trade here as global markets absorb the implications of China's measures to stabilize its economy, which were announced late Friday, dealers said.
China raised its lending rate by 18 basis points to 6.57 pct and the deposit rate by 27 basis points to 3.06 pct. The daily yuan trading band was also widened to 0.5 pct of the central parity rate -- set by the central bank -- compared with a 0.3 pct fluctuation limit before the move. The bank reserve requirement was lifted by 0.5 percentage points.
Despite the China lead, however, currency markets are likely to continue range-trading for at least the first half of this week given the lack of key data releases, dealers said.
At 9.47 am Sydney (2347 GMT), the dollar was at 121.15 yen, up slightly from 121.12 in late New York trade on Friday, while the euro was at 1.3522 usd, up from 1.3509 in New York.
Dealers said the yen initially strengthened late Friday following China's rate tightening but investors concluded that the move would do little to boost the yuan.
They said China's measures were also not likely to change the outlook for carry trades, with the rebound in prices of industrial metals on Friday suggesting that investor risk appetite -- and, hence, support for carry trades -- remains solid.
NAB Capital strategists said there is skepticism within global markets that China's widening of the permitted yuan trading band signals a likely sharp appreciation in the currency ahead.
They noted that China did not allow the yuan to appreciate by anywhere near the permitted 0.3 pct per day previously allowed, while the band widening appears aimed at placating the US Congress, which is threatening import tariffs if China does not allow for more currency flexibility.
'We continue to look for a 5 pct gain in the yuan against the US dollar to 7.45 by mid-2008,' the strategists said.
Dealers said the dollar had earlier found some support from the latest University of Michigan consumer confidence survey for May, which jumped to 88.7 index points from 87.1 in April, coming in above market expectations for a fall to 86.2 index points.
They said US data releases this week are likely to only have a minor impact until Thursday's durable goods and new homes sales for April, followed by existing home sales for the same period out on Friday.
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