People’s Bank of China boosts counter-cyclical adjustment measures while rejecting ‘flood-like’ stimulus

China’s central bank wants to juice the economy, just not too much. Following its second-half work conference, the People’s Bank of China announced plans to enhance counter-cyclical adjustment measures while maintaining what it calls a “moderately loose” monetary policy for the remainder of 2026. The central bank’s statement, issued around August 2, outlined a strategy built on ensuring ample liquidity while carefully guiding credit supply to match economic growth and price stability targets. The PBOC emphasized that it will adapt its policy tools “in a timely manner,” which gives it flexibility to act without committing to specific moves. This approach aligns with signals from earlier in the year, when the central bank indicated in January 2026 that cuts to both the reserve requirement ratio (RRR) and interest rates were on the table to maintain adequate liquidity. The RRR is the percentage of deposits that banks must hold in reserve rather than lend out. Cutting it frees up capital for lending, effectively putting more money into circulation without printing new currency. What’s notable about the latest announcement is what it didn’t include: no new quantitative targets, no speci...