IMF Says More Work Needed Before Yuan Reserve-Currency Decision

"The International Monetary Fund said the yuan trails its global counterparts in major benchmarks and that “significant work” in analysing data is needed before deciding whether to grant the Chinese currency reserve status. IMF staff members also opened the door to a possible delay in any approval with a proposal to postpone by nine months, until September 2016, the implementation of a change in the basket of currencies that make up the lender’s Special Drawing Rights, according to an update on the five-yearly review released Tuesday. The IMF said postponing the change would make the transition to a new basket smoother. The report suggests that while approval by the IMF board isn’t yet assured, it’s within reach, and the decision will come down to more than just the staff’s assessment. China has been pushing for the yuan to join the dollar, euro, yen and pound in the SDR basket; while countries such as France have welcomed China’s push, the U.S. has urged the nation to keep moving toward a flexible exchange rate and undertaking financial reforms."