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China Ditching Dollar for Own 'Redback'

By Jason Farago,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 3, 2009 5:46 AM CDT

(Newser) – China is speeding up efforts to encourage the use of its currency in international trading, with analysts predicting that the Chinese renminbi will become one of the three top currencies by 2012, reports the Times of London. In recent months Beijing has inked currency-swap deals with central banks from Korea to Argentina and expanded the currency's use in financial powerhouse Hong Kong. It's a major change for China, which holds trillions in US currency.

China's massive dollar holdings and export-driven economy make it vulnerable to losses if the American currency loses value. Internationalizing the renminbi may still take some time, not least because investors may be nervous about the Communist Party's willingness to keep its hands off. But one HSBC economist says that after the pound in the 19th century and the dollar in the 20th, the rise of the "redback" is "long overdue."

A migrant worker reacts as he receives his delayed wages in Shenyang, Liaoning province, China.
A migrant worker reacts as he receives his delayed wages in Shenyang, Liaoning province, China.   (AP Photo/EyePress, file)
A currency exchange sign hangs on a street in Hong Kong, Thursday, Jan. 31, 2008.
A currency exchange sign hangs on a street in Hong Kong, Thursday, Jan. 31, 2008.   (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
The renminbi is on track to become one of three most traded currencies by 2012, according to economists.
The renminbi is on track to become one of three most traded currencies by 2012, according to economists.   (AP Photo)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 11 comments
offspringdude235
Aug 3, 2009 12:02 PM CDT
Well, this is sink or swim time for China.... Good luck because what will eventually happen is that when they think their economy and "redback" are strong enough they'll come knocking on our doors for their money back and the results will not be pretty for either side....
Doctor-Zaius
Aug 3, 2009 11:26 AM CDT
This has an opportunity in it. Maybe we will learn that to be a major world player we need to make things here once again and that the core of a stable economy is a well paid blue-collar work force. LOL at leftist shithole. You mean like Sweden, Norway and Finland? They all have better standards of living than we do.
0001tr
Aug 3, 2009 10:20 AM CDT
Come on ClearSight...the SAVIOUR has already proven he can turn AIR into DOLLARS, Racism into Happy Hour...No doubt the beer served was that which HE turned from water..have a little faith..

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