IN BRIEF (Page 13)

Reserve rate increased

China has raised reserve requirements for six large commercial banks on a temporary basis - a move intended to drain cash from the economy but avoid over-tightening, four sources told Reuters on Monday.

The 50 basis-point jump, which increases the country's biggest lenders' required reserve ratios to 17.5 percent, is the first since May this year. The rise will be in place for two months before ratios are returned to their current levels, the sources said.