The central bank yesterday announced that it would raise the reserve requirement ratio by 0.5 percentage points. By raising the proportion of funds lenders must hold in reserve, it hopes to mop up liquidity and anchor prices.
Effective March 25, the upward revision - the second this year - will push the ratio to 15.5 percent, the People's Bank of China said on its website.
"The central bank move is targeted at mopping up liquidity, a driving force behind the continually rising prices." This according to Guo Tianyong, economist with the Central University of Finance and Economics, who continued: "But there is no close link between such moves and the stock market."
However, the fragile market, which dove nearly 4 percent yesterday after declining about 30 percent this year, may over-react to the hike, Guo said.
Hours before the announcement, Premier Wen Jiabao vowed that the country will continue to adopt a range of policies to fight inflation and balance economic growth. "Controlling price rises and curbing inflation will be the top priorities for the government this year," he said.
The country is facing serious inflationary pressure and analysts said keeping liquidity under control is one option for taming rising prices.
"The central bank move is not surprising, and more such moves may be announced this year," said Wang Tao, head of economics and strategy at Bank of America (Greater China).
There is still room to raise the ratio further as long as liquidity is on the rise, she said, adding that "raising the ratio is a low-cost tool to neutralize liquidity".
To effectively control liquidity growth, she suggested, the authorities need multiple policies, such as strengthening foreign exchange checks to prevent speculative capital from flowing into the country to profit from rising yuan assets.
Questions:
1.The central bank said it would raise the reserve ratio by how many percentage points?
2. The move will push the ratio to what percentage?
3. What did Premier Wen Jiabao say are the top priorities for the government this year?
Answers:
1.0.5 percentage points.
2.15.5 percent.
3.Controlling price rises and curbing inflation.
（英語點津 Celene 編輯）
About the broadcaster:
Jonathan Stewart is a media and journalism expert from the United States with four years of experience as a writer and instructor. He accepted a foreign expert position with chinadaily.com.cn in June 2007 following the completion of his Master of Arts degree in International Relations and Comparative Politics.
