• USD/CNY edged lower on Monday as yuan firmed, despite the central bank setting a weaker-than-expected daily midpoint, as subdued demand for the dollar continued to support the Chinese currency.
• The dollar’s six-currency index was little changed at 99.17 as traders turned their attention to this week’s U.S. inflation data for further clues on the Federal Reserve’s interest-rate path.
•The focus on inflation comes after Friday’s stronger-than-expected nonfarm payrolls report increased expectations for a September Fed rate hike, with markets now pricing roughly a 57% chance of a move...
• Before the market opened, the PBOC set the yuan’s daily midpoint at 6.7795 per dollar, 709 pips weaker than estimate.
• Chinese banks have been raising dollar deposit rates and using the additional dollar liquidity to buy U.S. Treasuries, a strategy that could help limit the yuan’s appreciation by encouraging customers to retain funds in dollars rather than convert them into yuan.
• Immediate resistance is located at 6.726(SMA20), any close above will push the pair towards 6.738(38.2%fib)
• Support is seen at 6.708(23.6%fib) and break below could take the pair towards 6.699(Lower BB).
Recommendation: Good to sell around 6.710, with stop loss of 6.740 and target price of 6.690
