Dollars: Sales and Deficit

dollars: Chinese banks saw a deficit of 69.6 billion US dollars in foreign exchange sales and purchases in the third quarter, up from 49 billion US dollars in the second, but much lower than the 124.8 billion US dollars in the first, according to new data from SAFE. The narrowed forex sales/purchase deficit in the second and third quarters reflected an easing of pressure on cross-border capital withdrawal, Wang said, according to Global Times China. She attributed the increase in the sales/purchase deficit in the third quarter to seasonal factors, as summer vacation and the period before the National Day holiday are peak times for purchasing foreign currencies as residents prepare for studies abroad or overseas travel. The supply and demand of foreign currencies in China have become more balanced since the start of the year, Wang Chunying, spokesperson of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange , said at a press conference. Disregarding seasonal factors, the forex sales/purchase deficit stood at 48.2 billion US dollars during the July-September period, Wang added. Cross-border flows will remain "basically stable" in the future, she predicted, citing China relatively fast economic growth, sound financial system, good fiscal balance, continuous current account surpluses and ample foreign exchange reserves as buffers against shocks. (news.financializer.com). As reported in the news.