The effectiveness of China’s RMB exchange rate reforms: An insight from multifractal detrended fluctuation analysis

• We study the effectiveness of RMB exchange reforms using the method of MF-DFA.
• The first RMB regime reform has a greater impact on RMB/USD market in the short term.
• The second RMB exchange reform in 2010 is more effective for both RMB/USD and RMB/HKD.
• The HK offshore market is found to work more efficiently.
• Multifractality is largely attributable to the persistence of the fluctuations of return series.

This paper examines the effectiveness of the RMB regime reforms on market efficiency improving for the mainland onshore market and Hong Kong offshore market. Based on multifractal detrended fluctuation analysis (MF-DFA), we study the multifractal properties as well as multifractality degree of RMB/USD and RMB/HKD exchange markets. Our empirical results show that, the first RMB regime reform undertaken on July 21, 2005 has a greater impact on RMB/USD exchange market in the short term, while the second RMB exchange reform undertaken on June 19, 2010 exerts the long-term influences on the efficiency of both RMB/USD and RMB/HKD markets. Further, RMB/HKD market is found to work more efficiently, although both mainland onshore market and Hong Kong offshore market have achieved a higher level of efficiency post reforms.