Core Viewpoint - The article suggests that the Chinese yuan may enter a medium to long-term appreciation cycle starting in 2026, with potential targets of 6.7 to 6.8 against the US dollar, contingent on a weak dollar, trade surpluses, and capital inflows [1][12] Group 1: Currency Trends - The yuan has experienced a depreciation phase from 2022 to 2024, with a significant drop in offshore rates, reaching a low of 7.42 in April 2025, but began to rebound thereafter [1] - By November 5, 2025, the yuan ended a three-year downtrend, rebounding by approximately 2-3% within the year [1] - The correlation between the yuan and a basket of currencies has weakened, indicating a shift in trade settlements towards the yuan and other non-dollar currencies [2] Group 2: Private Sector Changes - By mid-2025, the private sector's net foreign asset position turned positive, with overseas net assets reaching approximately $181.9 billion [3] - The trend of "hiding foreign exchange in the public" and low interest rates have driven Chinese enterprises and individuals to invest abroad [3] Group 3: Trade and Capital Flows - China's export share is projected to recover to 14.62% in 2024, with a significant trade surplus contributing to a current account surplus by 2025 [5] - As of September 2025, there was a backlog of approximately $465 billion in pending foreign exchange settlements from exports, which could influence exchange rate fluctuations upon repatriation [5] Group 4: Investment Trends - Cross-border securities investment shifted from net outflows to net inflows in the first three quarters of 2025, with foreign investment in A-shares increasing by approximately 622.9 billion yuan [6] - The attractiveness of holding yuan-denominated assets has improved due to changes in swap points and interest rate differentials [6][7] Group 5: Policy and Regulatory Environment - The People's Bank of China prioritizes exchange rate stability, adjusting the midpoint rate to manage external shocks and maintain market expectations [9] - Regulatory measures have been implemented to respond to fluctuations in US-China trade dynamics and to stabilize the yuan [9] Group 6: Future Outlook - The article predicts that if the US dollar remains structurally weak in 2026, alongside a current account surplus and net inflows from securities investments, the yuan could potentially break below 7.0 and reach the 6.70-6.80 range by the end of the year [12] - A similar appreciation pattern to that observed from September 2019 to March 2022 could see the yuan gradually move towards the 6.40-6.50 range from its April 2025 low [12]