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1 Apr 2015
Most overlook points about the currency reserve data – BBH
FXStreet (Barcelona) - Mark Chandler, Global Head of Currency Strategy at Brown Brothers Harriman, highlights points that have been largely overlooked when discussing the Q4 FX reserve figures released by IMF.
Key Quotes
“Overall reserves fell by $166 bln in Q4. This follows a $223 bln decline in global reserves in Q3. Part of can be accounted for by valuation, but seemingly unnoticed the dollar holdings themselves actually fell by $31 bln."
“There are still 3.826 trillion dollars in official reserves whose allocations have been reported. Several central banks are believed to have intervened Q4 14 to support their currency, and this often entails the sales of dollars.”
“The dollar value of euro reserves fell $46 bln to $1.351 trillion. This is a 3.3% decline. The IMF tells us the dollar rose from 0.7947 euros to 0.8237 (= euro falling from $1.2583 to $1.2140) over the course of Q4 14. The currency valuation then depressed the dollar value of the euro holdings by 3.6%.”
“The dollar value of most of the currency reserve holdings fell in Q4 14. There was one exception. The dollar value of the reserves in Swiss francs rose to $17.18 bln from $16.46. This is almost a 4.4% increase.”
“The dollar value of allocated reserves fell by almost $100 bln or 1.6%. The dollar value of unallocated reserves fell by $67 bln or 1.3%. China's central bank reported that is reserves fell by $44.7 bln in Q4 14 or 1.2%. The small differential seems more of a coincidence that a signal of similar investment decisions.”
“Consider the change over the past two years. Allocated reserves have slipped by $3 bln while unallocated reserves have risen by $650 bln, of which China's reserves account for $532 bln.”
Key Quotes
“Overall reserves fell by $166 bln in Q4. This follows a $223 bln decline in global reserves in Q3. Part of can be accounted for by valuation, but seemingly unnoticed the dollar holdings themselves actually fell by $31 bln."
“There are still 3.826 trillion dollars in official reserves whose allocations have been reported. Several central banks are believed to have intervened Q4 14 to support their currency, and this often entails the sales of dollars.”
“The dollar value of euro reserves fell $46 bln to $1.351 trillion. This is a 3.3% decline. The IMF tells us the dollar rose from 0.7947 euros to 0.8237 (= euro falling from $1.2583 to $1.2140) over the course of Q4 14. The currency valuation then depressed the dollar value of the euro holdings by 3.6%.”
“The dollar value of most of the currency reserve holdings fell in Q4 14. There was one exception. The dollar value of the reserves in Swiss francs rose to $17.18 bln from $16.46. This is almost a 4.4% increase.”
“The dollar value of allocated reserves fell by almost $100 bln or 1.6%. The dollar value of unallocated reserves fell by $67 bln or 1.3%. China's central bank reported that is reserves fell by $44.7 bln in Q4 14 or 1.2%. The small differential seems more of a coincidence that a signal of similar investment decisions.”
“Consider the change over the past two years. Allocated reserves have slipped by $3 bln while unallocated reserves have risen by $650 bln, of which China's reserves account for $532 bln.”