Core Viewpoint - The offshore RMB has surpassed the 7.0 mark against the USD, marking a 16-month high and a year-to-date appreciation of 2.46%, while the USD index has seen a decline of over 10% this year, the largest annual drop since 1973. This shift reflects a deep reassessment of international capital towards Chinese assets amid a new phase of US-China competition and a quiet "capital migration revolution" [2]. Exchange Rate Fluctuations: RMB vs. USD - RMB appreciation driven by three engines: - Collapse of USD credibility with US debt exceeding $36 trillion and a fiscal deficit rate of 6.8%, leading to a downgrade of US debt ratings and a sell-off [3]. - Resilience of the Chinese economy with a GDP growth rate of 5.3% in the first half of 2025, significant increases in exports of new energy vehicles and photovoltaic equipment, and a trade surplus of $420 billion [3]. - Precise policy adjustments by the central bank, including dynamic adjustments to foreign exchange reserve requirements and a 120% year-on-year increase in offshore central bank bill issuance [3]. - Four major factors contributing to the USD decline: - Uncontrolled interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve, with a cumulative reduction of 150 basis points in 2025, leading to a federal funds rate of 3.75% and a decline in the attractiveness of USD assets [3]. - Geopolitical backlash from US tariffs deemed illegal by the WTO, undermining the foundation of USD hegemony [4]. - Impact of digital currencies, with the digital RMB's cross-border payment pilot expanding to 47 countries, resulting in a decrease in the USD's settlement share [5]. - Concerns over "fiscal deficit monetization" as US Treasury bond issuance exceeds $1.2 trillion per month, raising fears of severe inflation [6]. Capital Shift: Global Funds Moving East - Equity markets favoring China: - Northbound capital inflow exceeding 280 billion RMB, with significant investments in AI, robotics, and innovative pharmaceuticals [7]. - The Hang Seng Tech Index rising by 28% this year, with substantial daily net purchases from southbound funds [7]. - Bond market stability: - Continuous six-month increase in foreign holdings of RMB bonds, surpassing 4.8 trillion RMB, with policy financial bond yields reaching 3.2%, widening the yield spread over US bonds to 180 basis points [8]. - Cross-border investment restructuring: - Foreign companies establishing R&D centers in China, with foreign R&D investment share rising to 27% [9]. - Ant Group collaborating with Southeast Asian digital banks to launch a "RMB stablecoin," with daily transaction volumes exceeding 10 billion RMB [9]. Underlying Logic: Paradigm Shift in Global Monetary Order - Shift in credit anchors from "gold-USD" to "industrial chain-RMB," with China's manufacturing value added accounting for 31% of the global total [10]. - Intensifying competition in digital currencies, with the digital RMB cross-border payment system covering 107 countries and processing over 1.2 trillion RMB daily [10]. Future Outlook: From "Currency Wars" to "Civilizational Competition" - Scenarios for 2026-2030: - RMB becoming the third-largest currency in the SDR with a cross-border payment share exceeding 15% [11]. - Potential for a "digital currency swap agreement" between China and the US, enhancing global payment efficiency by 40% [11]. - Risk of a "digital currency cold war," leading to increased trade friction costs by 30% [11].
人民币狂飙2.46%!美元却“崩了”,全球资本正悄悄转向中国
Sou Hu Cai Jing·2025-10-03 06:25