(Yicai Global) Sept. 21 -- The central parity rate of the yuan against the US dollar dropped 197 basis points before today's opening of the interbank market to reach a new high since Sept. 1.

This is the third consecutive day it has dropped.

The China Foreign Exchange Trade System (CFETS), the interbank trading and foreign exchange division of China's central bank, the People's Bank of China (PBOC), set the yuan central parity rate at 6.5742 against the dollar, compared with the official close of 6.5859 yesterday.

The onshore spot exchange rates of the yuan against the dollar edged up to 6.5735 at the close of night trading Sept. 19, while the offshore rate rose to 6.5692.

The dollar index strengthened by 0.177 points to 92.616 at 9.22 a.m. yesterday.