Thursday, March 11, 2010

Beijing studies severing peg to US dollar

Choice A: Continue to print money to buy dollars from your exporters and fuel inflation.
Choice B: Stop printing money and let the yuan appreciate.

Either way, Chinese export prices rise.

* * * * * J B K * * * * *

San Francisco

Mr Zhou's comments contrasted with recent Chinese comments on its currency policy in the face of international criticism that the renminbi was undervalued. In December, premier Wen Jiabao said: "We will not yield to any pressure of any form forcing us to appreciate." Chinese officials have repeatedly emphasised the need for a stable exchange rate.

However, while the recent increase in consumer prices in China has strengthened the hand of those officials who think the currency should now rise, it is not clear that this argument has yet won over the country's senior leaders.

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/6cd3a766-2925-11df-972b-00144feabdc0.html?nclick_check=1