Risk aversion selloff triggered as investors renewed their concerns over the coronavirus crisis in view of spikes in the number of people infected with virus in Japan, the United States and other parts of the world.
China's central bank, the People's Bank of China (PBOC), announced it will cut the targeted RRR by 0.5 percentage points on 15 April and again on 15 May, amounting to a full 1 percentage point cut. This time, the RRR cut is only targeting smaller banks, which is expected to release 400 billion yuan (56.4 billion U.S. dollars) to the market. This came after two RRR cuts were implemented this year, which freed up 1.35 trillion yuan of long-term funds cumulatively, in an effort to support the development of the real economy, promote greater support for small, medium and micro enterprises, and reduce the actual cost of social financing, especially amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Additionally, the PBOC has decided to reduce the excess deposit reserve interest rate of financial institutions in the central bank from 0.72 percent to 0.35 percent since April 7. On January 6, the central bank lowered the deposit reserve ratio of some financial institutions by 0.5 percentage points, releasing more than 800 billion yuan of long-term funds. On March 16th, the PBOC announced RRR cuts by 0.5 to one percentage points for qualified banks. Qualified joint-stock commercial banks will be eligible for an additional one percentage point RRR cut. The move was aimed at financial institutions' services for small businesses, farmers, low-income households, people with disabilities and senior citizens, freeing up 550 billion yuan.
ECONOMIC NEWS: China Caixin Service Sector Activity Contracts At Slower Pace In March- China's services Purchasing Managers' Index rose to 43.0 in March from 26.5 in February, survey data from IHS Markit showed Friday. However, a score below 50 indicates contraction. The composite output index advanced to 46.7 in March from 27.5 a month ago. But this was the second-lowest score in eleven years. The fall was commonly associated with the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on demand and supply chains.
CURRENCY NEWS: China's yuan was lower against the dollar, as China central bank fixed softer mid-point rate. Prior to market opening, the People's Bank of China (PBOC) set the midpoint rate CNY=PBOC at 7.1104 per dollar, 109 pips, or 0.15%, softer than the previous fix of 7.0995, and the weakest since March 6, 2008. The onshore yuan CNY=CFXS opened at 7.0930 per dollar and was changing hands at 7.0885 at midday, 64 pips weaker than the previous late session close.
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