Yuan may hit 17-year high

Currency may rise as stocks advance and bonds decline

SINGAPORE - China's yuan may hit a 17-year high in the coming week as stocks rise and bonds fall after the People's Bank of China (PBOC) raised interest rates for the third time in four months to curb inflation, if history is a guide.

The currency of the world's fastest-growing economy traded at 6.5824 per dollar as of 9:43 am in Shanghai, a 0.2 percent gain from its close on Feb 1, the last day of trading before the week-long Lunar New Year holiday.