The international reserves of Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) stood at RM405 billion (equivalent to US$97.7 billion) as at Sept 30, 2016 compared with RM392.5 billion (equivalent to US$97.7 billion) as at Sept 15, 2016.

In a statement today, BNM said the increase in reserves in ringgit terms was mainly due to the quarterly adjustment for foreign exchange revaluation changes following the strengthening of other currencies against the ringgit during the third quarter.

“The reserves position is sufficient to finance 8.4 months of retained imports and is 1.2 times the short-term external debt,” it said.

The main components of the international reserves were foreign currency reserves (US$89.7 billion), International Monetary Fund reserves position (US$0.8 billion), Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) (US$1.2 billion), gold (US$1.5 billion) and other reserve assets (US$4.5 billion).

The central bank’s assets included gold and foreign exchange and other reserves including SDRs (RM404.977 billion), Malaysian government papers (RM1.643 billion), deposits with financial institutions (RM2.162 billion), loans and advances (RM7.657 billion), land and buildings (RM2.114 billion) and other assets (RM5.678 billion).

Its liabilities comprised paid-up capital (RM100 million), reserves (RM123.214 billion), currency in circulation (RM92.177 billion), deposits by federal institutions (RM170.160 billion), deposits by federal government (RM5.551 billion), other deposits (RM916.756 million), Bank Negara papers (RM10.633 billion), allocation of SDRs (RM7.759 billion) and other liabilities (RM13.718 billion).

- Bernama