(Yicai Global) Sept. 7 -- The People's Bank of China widened the banking system's liquidity by CNY20 billion (USD2.9 billion) today by conducting open market operations.

The central bank carried out CNY100 billion (USD14.6 billion) worth of seven-day reverse repos. Meanwhile, CNY80 billion worth of such short-term lending instruments matured.

The purpose is to keep the liquidity of the financial system "reasonably ample," the PBOC said in a statement today.

Editor: Emmi Laine