MNI CHINA MARKETS: Yuan Strengthens; Rates Fall; Stocks Flat

     BEIJING (MNI) - The yuan rose against the U.S. dollar on Friday morning

even thought the People's Bank of China set a weaker fixing for the day.

     The yuan was last at 6.5794 against the U.S. unit, stronger than the

official closing price of 6.5858 on Thursday. 

     The People's Bank of China set the yuan central parity rate against the

U.S. dollar at 6.5821 on Friday, weaker than Thursday's 6.5795. The PBOC has set

the fixing weaker for two trading days out of five this week.

     Money market rates were down as the supply of short-term capital was ample

in the interbank market. The seven-day repo average was last at 2.7377%, lower

than Thursday's average of 2.8214%. The overnight repo average was at 2.5641%,

also lower than Thursday's 2.6103%. But the 14-day repo average rate rose as

cross-month liquidity demand increased. The rate was last at 4.5405%, higher

than Thursday's 4.5319%.

     The yield on benchmark 10-year China government bonds was last at 3.9124%,

down from the previous close of 3.9176%, according to Wind, a financial data

provider. 

     Mainland stocks were flat, with property and high-tech sectors dragging

down the performance in the morning session. The benchmark Shanghai Composite

Index was unchanged at 3,298.32. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index was 0.55% higher at

29,422.38

--MNI Beijing Bureau; +86 (10) 8532 5998; email: marissa.wang@marketnews.com

--MNI Beijing Bureau; +86 (10) 8532-5998; email: vince.morkri@marketnews.com

[TOPICS: M$A$$$,M$Q$$$,M$$FI$,MN$FI$,MN$FX$]