CHINA'S yuan rose for a ninth week, the longest winning streak since November. The yuan yesterday closed 0.01 percent stronger than Thursday at 6.1556 per US dollar, according to the China Foreign Exchange System. The currency gained 0.15 percent this week.

The central bank yesterday cut the central parity rate by 0.1 percent to 6.2152 per US dollar. Some economists are expecting wider fluctuation of the exchange rate due to uncertain foreign capital flow.