Will USD/CNY trade below 6.70 at any point by September 2026?
The Condition
PBOC + State Council announce consumer-facing stimulus exceeding 2% of GDP by end of Q3 2026
Our Ensemble Estimates
Given demand pivot: Will USD/CNY trade below 6.70 at any point by September 2026?
Given no demand pivot: Will USD/CNY trade below 6.70 at any point by September 2026?
Causal Effect
Demand-side pivot worth ~21pp to CNY breaking below 6.70, adding China-specific catalyst to structural dollar weakness
Why This Matters
Tests whether a genuine demand-side stimulus pivot accelerates CNY appreciation beyond current market front-running. CNY has already strengthened to 6.91 from 7.25 despite PBOC easing, with markets pricing NPC stimulus expectations. A demand-side pivot exceeding 2% of GDP would validate this front-running and potentially push CNY stronger through capital inflows, improved growth outlook, and reduced deflation risk. PBOC reserve accumulation ($3.47T, +$176B YoY) provides a managed appreciation framework.
Resolution Criteria
FRED DEXCHUS (daily spot USD/CNY exchange rate) prints below 6.70 for any trading day through September 30, 2026
Source Analysis
USD/CNY weakening back above 7.10 signals NPC disappointment scenario materializing