Yuan edges up as markets take U.S. inflation data in stride

SHANGHAI, April 14 (Reuters) - China's yuan firmed on Wednesday on the back of a weaker dollar and as the central bank guided the currency higher. Prior to the market open, the People's Bank of China set the midpoint rate at 6.5362 per dollar, 92 pips firmer than the previous fix of 6.5454 and the strongest such guidance since March 25. In the spot market, the yuan opened at 6.5415 per dollar and was changing hands at 6.5403 at midday, 49 pips firmer than the previous late session close. The offshore yuan was trading at 6.5425 per dollar. The dollar fell to multi-week lows against the euro and the yen on Wednesday after an uptick in a U.S. consumer price gauge did not spark wider fears about accelerating inflation, pushing down U.S. bond yields. Some analysts had worried that sharp price rises could prompt the Federal Reserve to start tapering stimulus sooner than expected. U.S. consumer prices rose by the most in more than 8-1/2 years in March as increased vaccinations and massive fis