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CNH vs CNY: Differences Between the Two Yuan

CNH vs CNY: Differences Between the Two Yuan

Renee Mu, Currency Analyst

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CNH VS CNY TALKING POINTS:

  • What is CNH and CNY?
  • The history of the two Yuan
  • Understanding the difference between CNY and CNH in trading

What is CNH and CNY and what are the main differences?

CNH refers to the Chinese Yuan in the offshore market, which is outside of Mainland China (the onshore market). China’s capital markets, including the FX market, are controlled and not fully opened yet. This leads to different features of the Chinese currency in the onshore and offshore markets, and thus two tickers are assigned to distinguish them.

In the onshore Mainland China market, the Chinese Yuan is called CNY. On the other hand, the offshore market includes traditional Yuan centers, such as Hong Kong (a special administrative region of China), Singapore, London and newly-developed centers such as Luxembourg.

The difference between the onshore CNY and the offshore CNH.

Find out more on the differences between RMB, Yuan, CNH and CNY

THE HISTORY OF CNY

USD/CNY Price Chart from 1992 to 2018

USD/CNY price chart from 1992 to 2018

Data downloaded from Bloomberg; chart prepared by Renee Mu.

1994- 2005: A sole CNY rate was formed, signalling the start of China’s modern foreign exchange rate system. Before 1994, China had two CNY rates in the onshore market, an official rate and a market rate. The spread was significant. For example, at the end of 1993, the official USD/CNY rate was 5.8 while the market rate was 8.7. On January 1, 1994, the dual-track exchange rate system was ended, with the two CNY exchange rates merged into one.

2005 - Mid 2008: The CNY flexibility was increased. On July 2, 2005, the USD/CNY was strengthened by +2.1% from 8.2765 to 8.1100, following China’s Central Bank launching a managed-floating exchange rate regime. Under the new system, the Central Bank loosened Yuan’s pegging against a sole currency – USD, and introduced a basket of currencies as the new reference.

Read More: What is China’s managed-floating exchange rate regime?

Mid 2008 - 2010: The CNY was re-pegged to the USD, following the eruption of the global financial crisis in the mid of 2008. This was used as a measure to protect China’s international trade during the crisis. The USD/CNY was restricted in a narrow range between 6.81 and 6.85.

2010 - Aug 2018: The CNY reform was resumed. The flexibility in the Yuan was increased again after the financial crisis. On April 16, 2012, the CNY daily trading band was raised from 0.5% to 1%. Then, it further expanded to 2% on March 17, 2014.

Aug 2018 - Today: The CNY was de-pegged against the USD and referred to a basket of currencies again. On August 11, 2015, China’s Central Bank weakened the daily CNY fixing (Yuan’s reference rate) by -1.82% to 6.2298, starting a new round of reforms on the Chinese currency. On December 11, 2015, the PBOC introduced CFETS Yuan Index, a reference for the CNY price.

As of today, China has continued to adopt the managed-floating exchange rate regime in the onshore market. The USD/CNY remains to be the top pair among all Yuan pairs and has the highest trading volume; at the same time, China’s Central Bank also looks to other CNY pairs when guide the onshore Yuan rate.

THE HISTORY OF CNH

USD/CNH Price Chart from August 2010 to August 2018

USD/CNH price chart from August 2010 to August 2018

Data downloaded from Bloomberg; chart prepared by Renee Mu.

2004 - 2010: Preparation Phase for CNH. The CNH has a much shorter history than the CNY. The letter “H” in CNH was originally referred to Hong Kong, the first offshore market for the Yuan. From 2004, Hong Kong began to introduce Chinese Yuan business, such as trade settlements in the Yuan.

2010 - Today: CNH was launched and in use. On July 2010, China’s Central Bank (PBOC) and Hong Kong Monetary Authority signed the revised clearing agreement on the Chinese Yuan, marking a milestone for the offshore Yuan development. On August 23, a quote on the USD/CNH was launched, signalling the start of the Chinese Yuan trading in the offshore market.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CNY AND CNH IN TRADING?

It is important for traders to understand the difference between CNY and CNH. Fundamentally, the CNH, traded in the offshore market, is considered to be less controlled and more market-driven than the CNY. This makes it more like a free-floating currency than the CNY, and a better choice for speculative trading.

USD/CNH vs USD/CNY Price Chart from August 2015 to August 2018

USD/CNH vs USD/CNY price chart from August 2015 to August 2018

Greater volatility is more likely to be seen in the CNH than the CNY when they respond to the same event. For instance, from May 2018 to August 2018, both the USD/CNH and the USD/CNY rose from a 15-month low to high, largely driven by the US-China trade war. The USD/CNH advanced from 6.2358 to 6.9587 while the USD/CNY increased from 6.2419 to 6.9347.

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READ MORE ON CNY and CNH

-- Written by Renee Mu, Currency Analyst with DailyFX

DailyFX provides forex news and technical analysis on the trends that influence the global currency markets.

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