PBOC Advisor Says May Raise Rates This Quarter, Securities Says

BEIJING, Apr. 7 -- China central bank advisor Li Daokui said the nation may raise interest rates in the second quarter, the China Securities Journal reported today.

Inflation will be the biggest factor in China's decision to increase interest rates, the Beijing-based newspaper cited Li as saying. If the nation's monthly consumer price index gains more than 3 percent, the government may increase rates, the report cited Li as saying.

The timing of an interest rate increase won't completely depending on the U.S., the newspaper cited Li as saying. An inflow of hot money from abroad if China raises rates before the U.S. is "not a very important" issue, the report cited Li as saying. The most important factor on if China's economy overheats is lending volume and not hot money, the newspaper cited Li as saying.