国泰海通证券研究·2026-01-25 14:03Core Viewpoint - The recent market perspective suggests that the appreciation of the RMB and increased foreign exchange settlement by enterprises could lead to bank balance sheet expansion, thereby aiding interbank liquidity. However, the reality is that while the RMB appreciates and enterprises increase settlement, the central bank does not purchase foreign exchange, which may tighten interbank liquidity instead [1][6]. Group 1: Impact of RMB Appreciation on Interbank Liquidity - The appreciation of the RMB and increased foreign exchange settlement does not automatically translate to an increase in base currency supply, as the central bank's foreign exchange reserves have not increased despite a significant surplus in bank foreign exchange settlements [2][8]. - In December 2025, the bank's foreign exchange settlement surplus reached a historical high of 999 billion USD, with the settlement rate rising by 7 percentage points to 69%, indicating strong market sentiment towards the RMB [7][9]. - The process of foreign exchange settlement involves converting domestic RMB assets into foreign currency assets, which consumes internal RMB reserves, thus not necessarily leading to liquidity expansion [10]. Group 2: Central Bank's Role in Liquidity Management - The key factor for whether interbank liquidity will tighten alongside RMB appreciation in 2026 lies in the central bank's willingness to increase base currency supply through various measures such as reverse repos, MLF, and bond purchases [4][11]. - The central bank's actions to maintain liquidity are crucial for stabilizing the RMB exchange rate and supporting economic growth, especially in light of government bond issuance [11][12]. - The central bank's ability to smooth out funding fluctuations has been enhanced, and it is expected to continue providing liquidity support, which may keep interbank rates low [12].