Malaysia’s reserves remain at US$103.4b as at end-Feb

Malaysia’s reserves remained usable as at end-February 2020, with official reserve assets at US$103.396 billion, in accordance with the International Monetary Fund’s special data dissemination standard (IMF SDDS) format.

In a statement today, Bank Negara said other foreign currency assets amounted to US$33.8 million.

"For the next 12 months, the pre-determined short-term outflows of foreign currency loans, securities and deposits, which include scheduled repayment of external borrowings by the government and repayment arising from the maturity of foreign currency Bank Negara Interbank Bills, amounted to US$5,298.6 million,” said the central bank.

The short forward positions amounted to US$13,108.3 million as at end-February 2020, reflecting the management of ringgit liquidity in the money market, it said in an explanatory note titled "Detailed Disclosure of International Reserves as at end-February 2020".

In line with the practice adopted since April 2006, Bank Negara said the data excludes projected foreign currency inflows arising from interest income and the drawdown of project loans amounting to US$2,560.4 million in the next 12 months.

The bank said the only contingent short-term net drain on foreign currency assets are government guarantees of foreign currency debt due within one year amounting to US$227.2 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.

"Bank Negara also does not engage in foreign currency options vis-à-vis ringgit,” it added.

- Bernama

Keep up with the latest information on the outbreak in the country with Malaysiakini's free Covid-19 tracker.

Malaysiakini is providing free access to the most important updates on the coronavirus pandemic. You can find them here.

Help keep independent media alive - subscribe to Malaysiakini.