THE China Banking Regulatory Commission yesterday denied a media report in Hong Kong that it had told domestic lenders to halt interbank lending to banks in the United States.

"The regulator has never, through any channel, issued a statement or told domestic commercial banks not to lend to US financial institutions," the CBRC said in a statement. The South China Morning Post reported that the regulator ordered local banks to halt interbank lending to US banks to avoid possible losses during the financial crisis.