KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia’s official reserve assets amounted to US$109.71 billion (RM483.7 billion) as of end-November 2022, in accordance with the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) Special Data Dissemination Standard (SDDS) format.
Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) said other foreign currency assets stood at US$4.9 million.
The central bank said the detailed breakdown of international reserves provides forward-looking information on the size, composition and usability of reserves and other foreign currency assets.
It also provides guidance on expected and potential future inflows and outflows of foreign exchange of the federal government and BNM over the next 12-month period.
“For the next 12 months, the predetermined short-term outflows of foreign currency loans, securities and deposits, which include, among others, scheduled repayment of external borrowings by the government and the maturity of foreign currency Bank Negara interbank bills, amounted to US$15.42 billion.
“The short forward positions amounted to US$25.98 billion as of end-November 2022, reflecting the management of ringgit liquidity in the money market,” it said in a statement today.
BNM said in line with the practice adopted since April 2006, the data excludes projected foreign currency inflows arising from interest income and the drawdown of project loans.
Foreign currency inflows are projected to amount to US$1.98 billion in the next 12 months.
BNM said the only contingent short-term net drain on foreign currency assets is government guarantees of foreign currency debt due within one year, amounting to US$399.4 million.
“There are no foreign currency loans with embedded options, no undrawn, unconditional credit lines provided by or to other central banks, international organisations, banks, and other financial institutions.
“BNM also does not engage in foreign currency options vis-à-vis ringgit,” it added.
“Overall, the detailed breakdown of international reserves under the IMF SDDS format indicated that as of end-November 2022, Malaysia’s international reserves remained usable.” – Bernama, December 30, 2022
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