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Yuan Drops to Record Amid Bets PBOC Helping Exports

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  • Yuan Drops to Record Amid Bets PBOC Helping Exports

China’s yuan dropped to a record low against a trade-weighted currency basket amid speculation policy makers are using recent dollar weakness to boost the competitiveness of the nation’s export.

The CFETS RMB Index, which measures the yuan against 13 exchange rates, fell to 93.78 Friday. That’s the lowest since the gauge was introduced in December. The basket usually declines when the greenback weakens because the yuan tends to rise less against the U.S. currency than its peers, said Harrison Hu, chief greater China economist at Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc in Singapore.

“The PBOC is intentionally allowing a weaker yuan as it hasn’t done any great intervention to prop up the exchange rate,” said Zhou Hao, economist at Commerzbank AG in Singapore. “A weaker currency makes more sense for China now as it helps the economy.”

China’s monetary authority was speculated to prop up the yuan during the run-up to a Group of 20 meeting in September and the yuan’s entry into the International Monetary Fund’s reserves on Oct. 1. The PBOC was then seen pulling support, leading to a 1.5 percent tumble in October as a gauge of dollar strength surged on mounting bets of Federal Reserve tightening.

Fortunes have flipped again this week, with growing unease in global markets fueled by an ABC News/Washington Post poll that placed Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump one percentage point ahead of Democratic rival Hillary Clinton. The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index has fallen 0.8 percent since Friday, when the Federal Bureau of Investigation said it had reopened its investigation into Clinton’s use of an unauthorized e-mail server.

The yuan basket’s decline is a surprise for market watchers, with a Bloomberg survey of 21 analysts and traders last month predicting that the PBOC will keep the gauge at 94 the rest of this year. China’s exports unexpectedly shrank the most in seven months in September and industrial production fell short of estimate, increasing pressure on policy makers to take steps to support economic growth. Although manufacturing data for October painted a brighter picture.

The yuan climbed 0.02 percent to 6.7610 a dollar as of 12:03 p.m. in Shanghai on Friday, taking its gain for the week to 0.3 percent. That’s the biggest weekly advance since July. The offshore yuan traded in Hong Kong was little changed for the day and up 0.2 percent for the week.

Is the CEO/Founder of Investors King Limited. A proven foreign exchange research analyst and a published author on Yahoo Finance, Businessinsider, Nasdaq, Entrepreneur.com, Investorplace, and many more. He has over two decades of experience in global financial markets.

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Naira

Nigeria Hits Historic High as Currency in Circulation Surges to N3.69 Trillion

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Nigeria’s currency in circulation surged to a historic high of N3.69 trillion, according to data released by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

This figure represents an increase of N43.07 billion or 1.18 percent from the total of N3.65 trillion reported in January 2024 and a 13.64 percent year-on-year rise from N3.25 trillion reported in February 2023.

Currency in circulation encompasses the physical cash, including paper notes and coins, actively used in transactions between consumers and businesses within the country.

The latest statistics indicate a considerable uptick in the availability of cash within the Nigerian economy.

The surge in currency supply comes amidst lingering concerns over a potential cash crunch following the monetary policy adjustments by the CBN, particularly the aggressive tightening stance of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC).

Analysts attribute this spike to various factors, including the fear factor stemming from the cash crunch experienced in 2023 and lingering uncertainties surrounding the administration of physical currency.

Despite the surge in currency in circulation, Nigeria’s economic growth remains sluggish, with projections indicating growth rates of around 2.9 percent to 3.1 percent for 2024.

Also, inflation remains a significant concern, with the headline inflation rate climbing to 31.70 percent in February 2024 from 29.9 percent reported in January 2024, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

The CBN’s proactive approach to monetary policy, including a historic increase in the monetary policy rate (MPR) to 24.75 percent, underscores the central bank’s commitment to addressing economic challenges and fostering stability amidst persistent pressures.

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Naira

Nigerian Naira Surges to N1,350 per Dollar in Parallel Market

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The Nigerian Naira has appreciated to N1,350 per dollar in the parallel market, a significant gain from its previous rate of N1,430 per dollar just a day earlier.

Similarly, in the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEM), the naira strengthened to N1,382.95 per dollar, indicating an upward trend across key forex segments.

Data from FMDQ revealed that the indicative exchange rate for NAFEM fell to N1,382.95 per dollar from N1,408.04 per dollar on the previous day, representing a gain of N25.09 for the naira.

This surge in the naira’s value has widened the margin between the parallel market rate and NAFEM to N32.95 per dollar from N21.96 per dollar previously.

Analysts attribute this impressive surge to recent foreign exchange reforms implemented by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

These reforms, including the consolidation of exchange rate windows and liberalization of the FX market, have contributed to bolstering the naira’s strength against the dollar.

The CBN’s proactive measures aim to promote stability, transparency, and liquidity in the foreign exchange market, fostering confidence among investors and strengthening the national currency.

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Forex

CBN Governor Reveals $2.4 Billion Forex Forwards Under Investigation

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Governor Yemi Cardoso of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) disclosed that law enforcement agencies are currently investigating foreign exchange forwards valued at $2.4 billion.

This announcement came in the wake of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting held in Abuja on Tuesday, March 26.

Governor Cardoso shed light on the meticulous forensic audit conducted on these transactions, which uncovered numerous discrepancies, rendering them ineligible for payment.

The CBN, while settling certain tranches of FX backlog, encountered transactions riddled with issues concerning their authenticity.

To address these concerns, Deloitte management consultants were enlisted to conduct a comprehensive forensic analysis spanning several months.

The audit revealed a multitude of irregularities, including allocations disbursed without corresponding requests, lack of proper documentation, and instances of outright illegality.

Cardoso emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, “We refused to validate them because, apart from the fact that documentation was not satisfactory in many cases, they were outright illegal.”

He underscored the commitment of law enforcement agencies to investigate these transactions thoroughly.

Despite concerns about potential backlogs among stakeholders, Cardoso assured that the market remains open and transparent for addressing any outstanding contractual obligations.

The CBN has diligently verified and settled recognized backlogs of forward transactions.

This revelation comes at a critical juncture as Nigeria grapples with economic challenges, including inflationary pressures.

The MPC’s decision to raise the benchmark interest rate to 24.75 percent reflects efforts to stabilize prices and restore the purchasing power of the average Nigerian.

As investigations unfold and regulatory scrutiny intensifies, the CBN’s commitment to transparency and financial integrity will be closely monitored by stakeholders across the nation.

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