管涛：众口一词的人民币升值“真相”︱汇海观涛

Group 1 - The article discusses the recent strengthening of the RMB against the USD, which has been characterized by a reversal of the previous trend of depreciation over the past three years, particularly since November 2024 [1] - Foreign investment banks have suggested that the RMB is structurally undervalued, predicting that RMB appreciation will be a high-confidence trade in 2026, while domestic voices echo that RMB revaluation will lead to a reassessment of Chinese assets [1][2] - However, the article argues that these significant judgments lack data, facts, or theoretical support, indicating skepticism about the sustainability of the RMB's appreciation [1] Group 2 - From July 2023 to February 2025, the RMB exchange rate faced overall pressure, with a notable shift to a surplus in bank foreign exchange settlements starting in March 2025, accumulating a surplus of $273.3 billion by November [2] - In November, the bank's foreign exchange settlement surplus was $29.7 billion, which was significantly lower than the surpluses recorded in September and October [2] - The article highlights that the improvement in the foreign exchange situation is not due to an increase in market settlement willingness but rather a decrease in the motivation to purchase foreign currency [4] Group 3 - The RMB broke the 7 mark in December 2025, with the domestic trading price showing a consistent strength against the central parity and offshore RMB rates [5] - The article compares the current situation to December 2020, when the RMB was also appreciating, noting that the average transaction volume in the interbank market decreased by 14.3% in December 2025 compared to the previous month [5] - The article emphasizes that the relationship between the actual effective exchange rate (REER) and the nominal exchange rate is complex, with REER depreciation not necessarily indicating that the nominal exchange rate is undervalued [7] Group 4 - The article notes that while China has a growing trade surplus, it also faces deficits in service trade and investment income, leading to a mixed picture in the current account balance [12] - In contrast, Japan has a trade deficit but benefits from significant investment income, resulting in a stronger current account position compared to China [12] - The article suggests that the equilibrium exchange rate is influenced by both external and internal factors, with the RMB potentially being undervalued due to trade surpluses but overvalued due to domestic economic conditions [14] Group 5 - The article discusses the complexities of the relationship between exchange rates and asset prices, arguing that a strong RMB does not automatically lead to a revaluation of Chinese assets [18] - Historical data shows that during years of RMB appreciation, a lower percentage of non-financial companies reported net exchange gains compared to years of depreciation [20] - The shift from net external debt to net external assets for Chinese companies may lead to net exchange losses if the RMB appreciates significantly, impacting corporate profitability [23]