(Yicai Global) Dec. 10 -- The People's Bank of China maintained the liquidity of the banking system balanced today, following yesterday's CNY10 billion (USD1.5 billion) injection.

The central bank conducted CNY10 billion in seven-day reverse repos at a 2.2 percent interest rate against an equal amount of similar maturing short-term lending instruments. In the first three weekdays of this week, the PBOC pulled out CNY350 billion (USD53.5 billion) via open market operations.

The purpose of the operation is to keep the liquidity of its financial system "reasonably ample," the regulator reiterated in a statement today.

Editor: Emmi Laine