BnM’s int’l reserves ease to uS$101.4 bln

KUALA LUMPUR: The international reserves of Bank Negara Malaysia amounted to US$ 101.4 billion as at Dec 14, down from US$ 102.0 billion a fortnight earlier.

The central bank said the reserves position is sufficient to finance 7.4 months of retained imports and was 1.0 time the short-term external debt.

The main components of the international reserves comprised foreign currency reserves at US$ 95.6 billion, International Monetary Fund reserves position ( US$ 900 mi l lion), Special Drawing Rights ( SDRs) ( US$ 1.1 billion), gold ( US$ 1.5 bi l lion), and other reserve assets ( US$ 2.3 billion).

BNM’s assets were made up of gold and foreign exchange and other reserves, including SDRs which amounted to RM420.10 billion, Malaysian government papers ( RM3.39 billion), loans and advances ( RM6.93 billion), land and buildings ( RM4.18 bi l lion), and other assets ( RM9.80 billion).

Its liabilities comprised paidup capital ( RM100 million), reserves ( RM133.78 billion), cur rency in circulat ion ( RM104.59 billion), deposits by financial institutions ( RM158.16 billion), federal government deposits ( RM10.39 billion), other deposits ( RM748.05 million), BNM papers ( RM26.03 billion), allocation of SDRs ( RM7.77 billion), and other liabilities ( RM2.82 billion). — Bernama