Forex Reserves reach Life-Time High of $375.71 billion

According to RBI, India’s foreign exchange (Forex) reserves have increased by  $2.985 billion to touch a lifetime high of $375.71 billion in the week that ended on May 5. The increase was due to increase in foreign currency assets (FCAs). The reserves had increased by $2.474 billion to $351.53 billion in the previous week.

Components

The components of India’s Foreign Exchange Reserves include: Foreign currency assets (FCAs), Gold, Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) and RBI’s Reserve position with International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Out of all the components, FCAs constitute the largest component of the Forex Reserves. FCA rose by $2.474 billion to $351.53 billion in the reporting week. FCAs consist of US dollar and other major non-US global currencies. It also comprises of investments in US Treasury bonds, bonds of other selected governments, deposits with foreign central and commercial banks. FCAs include with them the effects of appreciation or depreciation of non-US currencies like the euro, pound, and the yen and is expressed in terms of dollars.
The gold reserves  increased $569.9 million to $20.438 billion. SDRs’ value decreased marginally by $0.4 million to $1.459 billion. RBI’s reserve position with the IMF declined $58.4 million to $2.288 billion.

Month: Current Affairs - May, 2017