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Chinese yuan softens against the US dollar as investors await US jobs data

Most major currencies fall against the greenback

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The US dollar strengthens against the Chinese yuan on Friday morning. Photo: Reuters
Celia Chenin Shenzhen

China’s yuan softened Friday morning against the US dollar, as traders take watch-and-see attitude before a US employment report due later in the day, which will be key to the Federal Reserve’s rate decision in September.

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The onshore yuan, which trades in Shanghai, dropped 0.12 per cent or 81 basis points to 6.6794 per US dollar on Friday morning.

The offshore yuan trading in Hong Kong stood at 6.6871 per US dollar, weaker by 0.03 per cent or 20 basis points.

Earlier in the day, the People’s Bank of China fixed the yuan’s mid-point rate against the US dollar at 6.6727, 57 basis points or 0.085 per cent stronger than Thursday’s fixing.

Traders are allowed to trade up to 2 per cent either side of the reference point for the day.

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Most major currencies weakened against the greenback, as traders awaited the US non-farm payrolls data for August due to come out at 8:30pm Hong Kong time.

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