is what the Chinese
authorities crave as the nation prepares for the
Beijing Olympics. But to the chagrin of many of its
trading partners, the stabilisation of the Chinese
renminbi is most unwelcome.
China's currency has
appreciated markedly since it was de-pegged from the
dollar in July 2005, rising nearly 18 per cent
against the greenback.
Moreover, the
renminbi's rate of appreciation has accelerated this
year, rising over 8 per cent since January, as China
sought to use the currency – along with higher
interest rates and the tightening of reserve
requirements of the country's commercial banks – to
keep a lid on rising inflationary pressures.
But there has been
a slowdown in the renminbi's appreciation this
month, with the currency rising just 0.2 per cent
against the dollar, way below this year's monthly
average of a rise of above 1 per cent.
Indeed, on Monday
the renminbi, which is still tightly managed by the
Chinese authorities, recorded its largest single
one-day fall since China cut the renminbi's ties
with the dollar three years ago.
This has sparked
speculation that Beijing has moved away from using
the currency as a tool to counter inflationary
pressures to using it as an instrument to promote
growth.
Any switch from
allowing the renminbi to trundle higher will
disappoint those nations that have long complained
the Chinese currency remains severely undervalued
and provides an uncompetitive advantage in relation
to trade.
Comments from
China's Politburo appeared to signal such a shift
last week.
The concluding
statement of its meeting on Friday emphasised the
importance of maintaining stable growth and did not
refer to previous concerns about overheating in the
economy.
Following this –
and adding to the speculation – a statement issued
by the People's Bank of China on Sunday made no
mention of the “tight monetary policy” that has been
standard in its communications for the past few
months.
Simon Derrick at
Bank of New York Mellon says the speculation of a
shift in policy has some merit given the
developments on China's stock markets.
The Shanghai
Composite Index has lost 53 per cent since peaking
last October and has fallen more than 45 per cent so
far this year.
“China will start
to focus more on growth rather than inflation this
year,” he says. “Allowing the currency to stabilise
would seem to make some sense.”
Mr Derrick says the
multiple raising of reserve requirements and
appreciation of the renminbi are making themselves
felt, with the latest figures showing inflationary
pressures are declining somewhat in China.
Carl Weinberg at
High Frequency Economics says Chinese consumer price
inflation, which hit multiyear highs this year, is
set to fall in July.
“Traders and
politicians will like seeing a drop in perceived
inflation,” he says. “This will take the pressure
off the central bank to hammer monetary conditions
higher.”
However, not all
analysts are convinced that China's authorities are
set to abandon their tight monetary policy and allow
the renminbi stabilise.
Mark Williams at
Capital Economics says the inflationary threat in
China has undoubtedly diminished in recent months
and it would be strange if the government did not
acknowledge this.
But, he adds, even
if the balance had shifted slightly towards
promoting growth, tackling inflation still seems to
be the Chinese authorities' primary concern.
“Officials have
used a change in rhetoric to acknowledge concerns
that inflation-reduction policies such as currency
appreciation are hurting many firms at a time when
the outlook for external demand is uncertain and
domestic demand is easing,” Mr Williams says.
“But they have
fallen short of committing to adjust those
policies.”
By the time the
last firework fizzles out at next month's Olympics
closing ceremony, the Chinese authorities will be in
a better position to assess the state of global
demand.
It may not just be
the games, but the renminbi's three-year rally that
is declared over.