(Yicai Global) Jan. 11 -- The People's Bank of China removed CNY15 billion (USD2.3 billion) of the financial system's liquidity today via open market operations.

The bank carried out CNY5 billion in seven-day reverse repos today against a maturing tally of CNY20 billion in such short-term lending instruments.

The purpose of the operation is to keep the liquidity of the country’s banking system "reasonably ample," the bank said in a statement.

The central bank withdrew CNY505 billion (USD77.9 billion) from the financial system through OMOs last week.

Editor: Emmi Laine