离岸人民币兑美元汇率在5月16日创下近两周高点后保持稳定在7.23左右,因为正如人们普遍预期的那样,中国人民银行在5月的固定利率期间保持了关键贷款利率不变。作为大多数企业和家庭贷款的基准,1年期贷款最优惠利率(LPR)保持在3.45%。同样,作为房地产抵押贷款参考的5年期利率在2月份创纪录地下调了25个基点后,仍保持在3.95%。这两个利率都处于历史低位,突显出该国经济复苏的脆弱性。此前,中国4月份的经济数据喜忧参半,显示工业产出持续增长,失业率为五个月来的最低水平,零售额表现缓慢。上周,中国人民银行(PBoC)也将中期贷款利率维持在2.5%,这是其持续稳定人民币的努力的一部分。
The offshore yuan remained steady around 7.23 per dollar, after a recent two-week highs on May 16th, as the People's Bank of China left key lending rates unchanged during its May fixing, as widely expected. The 1-year loan prime rate (LPR), the benchmark for most corporate and household loans, was held at 3.45%. Similarly, the 5-year rate, which serves as a reference for property mortgages, was maintained at 3.95% after a record reduction of 25 basis points in February. Both rates are at historic lows, underscoring the nation's fragile economic recovery. The decision followed mixed economic data from China for April, which showed sustained industrial output growth, a five-month low jobless rate, and a slow performance in retail turnover. Last week, the People's Bank of China (PBoC) also maintained the medium-term lending rate at 2.5%, as part of its ongoing efforts to stabilize the yuan.