Chinese regulators reiterated a pledge to defend the yuan as the currency comes under renewed pressure amid the prospects of U.S. trade tariffs.

China's central bank said on Friday it has suspended treasury bond purchases, triggering a jump in yields and spurring speculation that the move was aimed at defending a falling currency.

The bank halted its government bond purchases Friday in an attempt to slow a one-way bonds trade that's put unwanted downward pressure on the yuan, analysts say.