The offshore yuan traded around 6.83 per dollar on Wednesday, remaining near a recent more than three-year high, as it heads into a period of expected seasonal weakness that may arrive earlier than usual this summer. Chinese firms are accelerating foreign exchange hedging ahead of a record wave of dividend payments scheduled for June through August, with mainland companies listed in Hong Kong expected to distribute nearly $70 billion in payouts. Instead of waiting closer to payout dates, many are locking in rates early due to lower cost of currency purchases and forward rates are cheaper than the spot market. Pressure on the yuan comes from renewed US–China tensions, including Washington’s sanctions on a major refiner and warnings of possible secondary sanctions on banks. Meanwhile, China’s blocking of Meta’s acquisition of AI startup Manus, along with stricter export compliance and supply chain rules, has further contributed to a more cautious sentiment for the yuan.
