China Raises Reserve Requirement

Earlier today, China announced that the minimum amount that banks must place with the central bank will be increased by 0.5% beginning August 15. This reserve requirement increase caused the yen to reach its one-week high against the USD. It came as a disappointment to Washington however that there was no further discussion of yuan flexibility, but it is likely that this debate will heat up in the coming weeks and months. Forbes reports:

Bank of New York currency analyst Neil Mellor noted that Ba Shusong, an influential government economist said today that China needs to widen the yuan's trading band to help control excess liquidity.

A further widening of the trading band 'could easily come within the next few weeks,' Mellor reckoned.

Read more: Yen gains against dollar as China raises reserve requirement