China's yuan poised to strengthen for a third week in a row on strong exports

China's yuan has maintained its strength against the dollar for the third consecutive week, aided by robust exports and a more favorable economic outlook despite domestic challenges and rising global yields. China's central bank governor expressed Beijing's reluctance to allow rapid yuan appreciation through exchange rate adjustments alone.

On Friday, the onshore yuan traded at 6.6907 against the dollar, showing little change from Thursday's close and reaching a peak level not seen since January 2023. The People's Bank of China had previously set the yuan's guidance rate at 6.7220 per dollar, the highest since February 2023. Nanhua Futures highlighted strong Chinese exports as a key factor supporting the yuan's rise.

Meanwhile, the dollar index retreated from its 18-month lows due to profit-taking and dovish comments from a Federal Reserve official. US producer prices surged to their highest level in 4½ years in September, but Nomura deemed the data insufficient to prompt an October interest rate hike. Investors will be closely watching Fed Chair Jerome Powell's remarks at the International Monetary Fund-World Bank meetings in Bangkok for insights into the US monetary policy trajectory.

Traders will also be monitoring China's GDP data, expected to be released on Monday, which suggests a modest acceleration in China's economic growth to 4.4% year-on-year. The International Monetary Fund's Asia and Pacific Department urged China to provide a more substantial fiscal stimulus to bolster its struggling economy. Pantheon Macroeconomics noted that China's exports have remained robust despite various obstacles, including higher tariffs, escalating international pressure to rebalance trade, rising export prices, and a steady appreciation of the renminbi.