HKMA sells HK$4.65 bln to keep HK dlr in trading band

HONG KONG Nov 13 (Reuters) - Hong Kong's central bank, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), on Friday morning injected HK$4.65 billion (US$600 million) into the money market to stem an appreciating Hong Kong dollar HKD= and keep it within its fixed trading band.

This followed a HK$9.688 billion intervention by the HKMA during Hong Kong and New York trading hours on Thursday.

The Hong Kong dollar repeatedly hit the top of its trading band at 7.7500 on Friday morning as funds continued to flow into the territory for big upcoming initial public offerings in the stock market. Signals from China this week that it is ready to resume appreciation of its yuan CNY=CFXS currency had also boosted trade in the Hong Kong dollar, dealers said.

According to data on Reuters page HKMAOOC, the latest intervention will lift the aggregate balance -- the sum of balances on clearing accounts maintained by banks with the HKMA -- to a record HK$294.368 billion by Nov. 17.

The Hong Kong dollar is pegged at 7.80 to the U.S. dollar, but can trade between 7.75 and 7.85 to the U.S. dollar.

Under the linked exchange rate mechanism, the HKMA is obliged to intervene in the market to keep the trading band intact if the currency hits 7.75 or 7.85.

By 0232 GMT, it was quoted at 7.7500/01. (Reporting by Christina Lo; Editing by Chris Lewis)