The Revaluation of the Chinese Yuan
Mini-Case: The Revaluation of the Chinese Yuan
1. Many Chinese critics had urged China to revalue the yuan by 20% or more. What would the Chinese yuan’s value be in U.S. dollars if it had indeed been revalued by 20%? Answer: If the yuan had been revalued to Yuan 6.90/$, it would have constituted an increase in its value by 20% against the U.S. dollar:
Yuan 8.28/$ − Yuan 6.90/$ × 100 = 20.0%. Yuan 6.90/$
2.
Do you believe that the revaluation of the Chinese yuan was politically or economically motivated? Answer: This is a matter of opinion. The primary pressure on China to revalue the yuan was, however, political in nature. China’s current account surplus and financial account surplus allows it significant room for currency management. By revaluing the currency, although minor in size initially, it did show the Chinese government’s willingness to listen to some of its critics.
3.
If the Chinese yuan were to change by the maximum allowed per day, 0.3% against the U.S. dollar, consistently over a 30 or 60 day period, what extreme values might it reach? Answer: All the following outcomes follow the calculation as shown here for the 30 day revaluation:
Value at end of 30 − days = Yuan 8.11/$ = Yuan 7.41/$. (1 + 0.003)30
• If the yuan were to revalue by 0.3% per day for 30 days against the U.S. dollar, assuming an initial value of Yuan 8.11/$, its value at the end of 30 days would be Yuan 7.41/$. If the yuan were to revalue by 0.3% per day for 60 days against the U.S. dollar, assuming an initial value of Yuan 8.11/$, its value at the end of 60 days would be Yuan 6.78/$. • If the yuan were to devalue by 0.3% per day for 30 days against the U.S. dollar, assuming an initial value of Yuan 8.11/$, its value at the end of 30 days would be Yuan 8.87/$. If the yuan were to devalue by 0.3% per day for 60 days against the U.S. dollar, assuming an initial value of Yuan 8.11/$, its value at the end of 60 days would be Yuan 9.71/$. 4. Chinese multinationals would
1. Many Chinese critics had urged China to revalue the yuan by 20% or more. What would the Chinese yuan’s value be in U.S. dollars if it had indeed been revalued by 20%? Answer: If the yuan had been revalued to Yuan 6.90/$, it would have constituted an increase in its value by 20% against the U.S. dollar:
Yuan 8.28/$ − Yuan 6.90/$ × 100 = 20.0%. Yuan 6.90/$
2.
Do you believe that the revaluation of the Chinese yuan was politically or economically motivated? Answer: This is a matter of opinion. The primary pressure on China to revalue the yuan was, however, political in nature. China’s current account surplus and financial account surplus allows it significant room for currency management. By revaluing the currency, although minor in size initially, it did show the Chinese government’s willingness to listen to some of its critics.
3.
If the Chinese yuan were to change by the maximum allowed per day, 0.3% against the U.S. dollar, consistently over a 30 or 60 day period, what extreme values might it reach? Answer: All the following outcomes follow the calculation as shown here for the 30 day revaluation:
Value at end of 30 − days = Yuan 8.11/$ = Yuan 7.41/$. (1 + 0.003)30
• If the yuan were to revalue by 0.3% per day for 30 days against the U.S. dollar, assuming an initial value of Yuan 8.11/$, its value at the end of 30 days would be Yuan 7.41/$. If the yuan were to revalue by 0.3% per day for 60 days against the U.S. dollar, assuming an initial value of Yuan 8.11/$, its value at the end of 60 days would be Yuan 6.78/$. • If the yuan were to devalue by 0.3% per day for 30 days against the U.S. dollar, assuming an initial value of Yuan 8.11/$, its value at the end of 30 days would be Yuan 8.87/$. If the yuan were to devalue by 0.3% per day for 60 days against the U.S. dollar, assuming an initial value of Yuan 8.11/$, its value at the end of 60 days would be Yuan 9.71/$. 4. Chinese multinationals would