Chinese central bank to pump $173b into economy to fight virus

block
AFP, Beijing :
China’s central bank said Sunday it would pump 1.2 trillion yuan ($173 bln) into the economy as it ramps up support for a nationwide fight against a deadly virus that is expected to hit growth.
The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) said in a statement it would launch a 1.2 trillion yuan reverse repurchase operation on Monday to maintain “reasonable and abundant liquidity” in the banking system, as well as a stable currency market, during the epidemic.
It added that the overall liquidity of the banking system would be 900 billion yuan ($129 billion) more than in the same period last year.
The move will kick in on the day that China’s financial markets reopen, following an extended Spring Festival break. The SARS-like virus which originated from the central Chinese city of Wuhan, has now infected over 14,000 people in the country and claimed more than 300 lives.
The PBOC also announced measures Saturday to step up monetary and credit support for enterprises which are helping in its fight against the virus, such as medical companies.
China’s central bank urged financial institutions to provide “sufficient credit resources” to hospitals and medical research units, among other measures.
Authorities also relaxed tariffs on goods imported for use in the virus fight – including those from the United States, with which it has been engaged in a bruising trade war for around two years.
block