The PBOC injected liquidity again Friday capping off a week where total injections were just over CNY500bn as REPO rates remain elevated. The PBOC is increasingly steering monetary policy through shorter-term interest rates, with the addition of overnight reverse repo operations aimed at better aligning policy transmission with China’s evolving financing structure, according to the Shanghai Securities News

Find more articles and bullets on these widgets:
The first 12 trading days of May saw a collective CNY400bn of withdrawals all front loaded in the month, followed by successive days of maturities meeting injections. That has ended in recent days with a return to liquidity injections - another of which occurred today - and the gradual rise in Repo rates.

Westpac’s leading index rose 0.04% m/m in April but the 6-month measure was negative for the second straight month signalling slightly below trend growth in H2 2026. The weakness has been mainly driven by the sharp drop in consumer sentiment following the jump in fuel prices but financial market components also contributed. The risk is that the longer the Iran War blocks fuel shipments, the weaker the growth outlook will be especially if accompanied by further RBA tightening.
Australia Westpac leading index vs GDP 2q/2q% annualised

Source: MNI - Market News/LSEG