China's doubling of the yuan trading band signals official confidence in the strength of the economy's expansion and suggests policymaking is unimpeded by the ouster of Bo Xilai from the Communist Party leadership.

The change that takes effect today "adds to my confidence in a soft landing," said Jim O'Neill, who is chairman of Goldman Sachs Asset Management in London and coined the acronym BRIC for Brazil, Russia, India and China.

A more flexible yuan may help central bank Governor Zhou Xiaochuan control inflation and support an economy that the World Bank sees growing 8.2 percent this year. The timing of the move may be intended to mute criticism of Chinese currency policies at International Monetary Fund and Group of 20 meetings and indicates that the scandal engulfing former Chongqing chief Bo, 62, will fail to stall the nation's economic opening up.