BEIJING — Chinese banks saw net foreign exchange purchase last month, data from the country's forex regulator showed on Jan 21.

Chinese lenders bought $279.7 billion worth of foreign currencies and sold $233.7 billion worth in December, resulting in a net purchase of 46 billion dollars, the State Administration of Foreign Exchange said in a statement.

In 2021, the banks recorded a net forex purchase of $267.6 billion, the data showed.