China has tightened monetary policy by expanding the base used to calculate banks’ required reserves in a move aimed at curbing off-balance-sheet lending.

The central bank’s first tightening action in nearly two months – reported by state media – could withdraw as much as Rmb900bn ($141bn) from lenders’ hands, equivalent to the effect of nearly three typical reserve requirement increases in China.

Analysts said the severity of the tightening could be softened in coming months if the central bank used its open-market operations to inject more cash into the economy. But the move served as a reminder that Beijing remains focused on smothering inflation, despite concern that global market turmoil could result in a sharp economic slowdown in China.