Spot yuan closed lower against the dollar on Thursday after data showed China's economic recovery was slowing and inflation eased, indicating the authorities will be in no hurry to allow the Chinese currency to appreciate. Dollar/yuan offshore forwards rose to imply less yuan appreciation while implied volatilities fell, also in response to the data.
China's annual economic growth moderated to 10.3 percent in the second quarter from 11.9 percent in the first quarter, while consumer price inflation in June fell to 2.9 percent from a year earlier from 3.1 percent in May. Offshore, one-year dollar/yuan non-deliverable forwards (NDFs) rose to 6.6630 bid in late trade from Wednesday's close of 6.6570, with their implied 12-month yuan appreciation falling to 1.67 percent from 1.78 percent.
Reflecting weakening expectations of yuan appreciation and consequently less volatility in the currency in future, offshore one-year dollar/yuan implied volatilities fell to 3.40 percent bid from Wednesday's close of 3.65 percent. The 12-month vols also touched 3.40 percent on Monday, which was their lowest level since early June.