(MENAFN- AFP) China's yuan has overtaken the Japanese yen and moved into fourth place among the world's payments currencies, global transactions organisation SWIFT said Tuesday, as Beijing pushes greater international use of its currency.
The yuan -- also known as the renminbi -- held a 2.79 percent share in world payments based on value in August, SWIFT said in a statement, besting the yen's 2.76 percent. The yen's position eroded to fifth place.
SWIFT stressed that over the last three years the yuan has jumped past seven currencies. In August 2012 it ranked 12th with a share of just 0.84 percent.
"The currency has also further established itself as the dominant currency for trade finance behind" the dollar, it added.
In August the greenback ranked as the top payments currency with a 44.82 percent share, SWIFT said, followed by the euro at 27.20 percent and the British pound at 8.45 percent.
China is seeking to make the yuan used more internationally in line with its standing as the world's second-largest economy.
Some analysts predict the unit will one day rival the dollar, currently the world's key reserve currency.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.