China cut the 1Y and 5Y LPR by 25bps on Monday to 3.10% and 3.60% respectively. USD/CNH had surged to mid-7.13 levels amid broad USD strength, DBS’ FX analyst Philip Wee notes.

RMB market mood shifts amid a resurgent Trump

“China cut the 1Y and 5Y LPR by 25bps on Monday to 3.10% and 3.60% respectively. These cuts to benchmark lending rates were expected given a 20bps cut to the 7D reverse repo rate in late September, and are part of a broader policy push to stimulate growth in China.” 

“USD/CNH had surged to mid-7.13 levels amid broad USD strength, opening a gap with the onshore CNY fixing. RMB flows have become more two-way, after an earlier bout of equity inflows into China briefly led to a dip in USD/CNH below 7.”

“We had flagged US election and trade risks as reasons to be restrained on RMB optimism earlier, and it seems the RMB market mood has indeed shifted amid a resurgent Trump.”