The unexpected action is intended to tamp down a potential bubble in the bond market fueled by investors shunning riskier assets like stocks and real estate.

China's central bank said on Friday it has suspended treasury bond purchases, triggering a jump in yields and spurring speculation that the move was aimed at defending a falling currency.

The People's Bank of China (PBC) announced on Friday that it has decided to temporarily suspend treasury bond purchases in the open market, starting from this month. The central bank said the decision was made as demand exceeded supply on the government bond market recently,