SHANGHAI, March 28 (Reuters) - China has overtaken Japan to become the world's biggest holder of foreign exchange reserves after its stockpile grew $8.5 billion in February to $853.7 billion, the China Business News reported on Tuesday.
Japan had reserves at the end of February of $850.1 billion.
...China's reserves have ballooned in recent years as
the central bank, in order to hold down the yuan,
has bought most of the dollars generated by a growing trade surplus, inflows of foreign direct investment and speculative capital.
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Bloomberg: China Currency Reserves Top Japan's, Newspaper Says (Update1)http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000087&sid=aIJ7mKLQ01rg&refer=top_world_newsAP: Report: China foreign reserves at $853.7Bhttp://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D8GKGCMO0.htm?campaign_id=apn_home_down&chan=db