Chinese banks

China's central bank is expected to fix the USD/CNY daily reference rate at 6.7085, according to a Reuters estimate. The PBOC sets the yuan's midpoint each trading day, and traders watch the fix closely for signals on official policy toward the currency and the wider economy. The expected level is being picked up by forex market observers ahead of the announcement.

UBS argues that the threat posed by Chinese carmakers to Europe's auto industry is larger than European policymakers currently appreciate. The bank's assessment adds to growing concern that Chinese manufacturers, with their cost and technology advantages, could take significant market share from established European brands faster than regulators and industry leaders have planned for.

China's central bank set the yuan's daily reference rate at 6.7399 to the US dollar, a firmer fixing than the previous day's 6.7489. The daily fix from the People's Bank of China guides onshore trading and is closely watched by currency traders for signals on official policy toward the yuan.

At least a dozen Chinese banks plan to wind down their retail leveraged precious-metals trading services, according to a widely shared report. The move restricts retail investors' access to leveraged gold and silver products at a time when demand for physical precious metals in China is described as surging.