IMF chief welcomes more yuan flexibility

WASHINGTON, June 19 (Reuters) - The head of the IMF, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, on Saturday welcomed China's announcement to make the yuan more flexible, saying it will boost Chinese household incomes and domestic investment.

In a statement, Strauss-Kahn said a stronger yuan was in line with findings of a mutual assessment report being presented by the IMF at the Group of 20 leaders' summit in Toronto next week.

He said a more flexible yuan will "help increase Chinese household income and provide incentives necessary to reorient investment toward industries that serve the Chinese consumer."

(Reporting by Lesley Wroughton; Editing by Doina Chiacu) (lesley.wroughton@thomsonreuters.com +1-202-898-8317; Reuters Messaging: lesley.wroughton.reuters.com@reuters.net))