Archived - Official International Reserves - April 3, 2020
- All 2020 Official International Reserves -
The Department of Finance Canada announced today that Canada’s official international reserves decreased by an amount equivalent to US$1,468 million during March to US$86,100 million. This was driven by reserves management funding operations (-US$1,560 million),[1] a net gain in investments (US$422 million)[2] and net government operations (-US$330 million).[5]
Details on the level and composition of Canada’s reserves as of March 31, 2020, as well as the major factors underlying the change in reserves, are provided below. All figures are in millions of US dollars unless otherwise noted.
| Millions of US dollars | |
|---|---|
| Securities | 69,862 |
| Deposits | 4,748 |
| Total securities and deposits (liquid reserves): | 74,610 |
| Gold | 0 |
| Special drawing rights (SDRs) | 8,410 |
| Reserve position in the International Monetary Fund (IMF) | 3,080 |
| Total: | |
| March 31, 2020 | 86,100 |
| February 28, 2020 | 87,568 |
| Net change: | -1,468 |
| Millions of US dollars | |
|---|---|
| Other central banks/Bank for International Settlements | 4,748 |
| Banks headquartered in Canada | 0 |
| Of which: located abroad | 0 |
| Banks headquartered abroad | 0 |
| Of which: located in Canada | 0 |
| Total: | 4,748 |
| Millions of US dollars | |
|---|---|
| Reserves management operations[1] | -1,560 |
| Gains and losses on gold sales | 0 |
| Net investment gains and losses: | |
| Return on investments[3] | 794 |
| Foreign currency debt charges | -97 |
| Revaluation effects[4] | -275 |
| Net government operations[5] | -330 |
| Official intervention | 0 |
| Other transactions | 0 |
| Net change: | -1,468 |
| Millions of US dollars | |
|---|---|
| US dollar | 51,886 |
| Euro | 12,889 |
| Pound sterling | 6,089 |
| Yen | 3,746 |
| Total: | 74,610 |
| 0 to 1 month | 1 to 3 months | 3 to 12 months | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foreign currency securities:[6] | ||||
| Principal | -1,277 | -3,087 | -6,373 | -10,737 |
| Interest | -94 | -146 | -677 | -917 |
| Aggregate short forward positions in foreign currencies vis-à-vis Canadian dollar | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Aggregate long forward positions in foreign currencies vis-à-vis Canadian dollar | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total net drains: | -1,371 | -3,233 | -7,050 | -11,654 |
| Millions of US dollars | |
|---|---|
| Undrawn, unconditional credit lines with banks headquartered outside Canada | 0 |
| Securities lent under repurchase agreements[7] | 0 |
| Securities held under repurchase agreements[8] | 4,273 |
| Financial derivatives assets (net, marked to market): | |
| Forwards | -11 |
| Swaps | -7,636 |
Notes:
[1] Net change in securities and deposits resulting from foreign currency funding activities of the government. Foreign reserves are managed under an asset-liability matching framework. Therefore, when a foreign currency liability matures, assets are used to repay the principal, leading to a decrease in reserves. During March, Canada bills decreased by US$727.9 million to a level of outstanding bills of US$1,534.3 million. An equivalent of US$92.8 million in cross-currency swaps was raised while US$800 million in cross-currency swaps and US$125 million in medium-term notes matured during the month.
[2] Net investment gains and losses include return on investments, foreign currency debt charges and revaluation effects.
[3] "Return on investments" comprises US$82 million of interest earned on investments and a US$712 million increase in the market value of securities.
[4] "Revaluation effects" reflect changes in the market value of reserve assets resulting from movements in exchange rates. In March, the revaluation effect was mainly due to the depreciation of the pound sterling.
[5] "Net government operations" are the net purchases of foreign currency for government foreign exchange requirements and for additions to reserves. In March, foreign exchange transactions were conducted to rebalance Canada's liquid reserves.
[6] "Foreign currency securities" include maturities of foreign currency debt, cross-currency swap payments and an estimate of interest payments on foreign currency liabilities.
[7] "Securities lent under repurchase agreements" are included in total reserves. Collateral provided in securities lending transactions is not included in total reserves.
[8] Cash invested under repurchase agreements is included in total reserves. Collateral provided in securities lending transactions is not included in total reserves.
| Date | US dollars | Other currencies | Gold | SDRs | IMF position | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 31, 2020 | 51,886 | 22,724 | 0 | 8,410 | 3,080 | 86,100 |
| February 28, 2020 | 52,755 | 23,240 | 0 | 8,463 | 3,110 | 87,568 |
| January 31, 2020 | 51,908 | 22,929 | 0 | 8,491 | 3,144 | 86,472 |
| December 31, 2019 | 48,646 | 24,967 | 0 | 8,527 | 3,157 | 85,297 |
| November 29, 2019 | 48,941 | 24,480 | 0 | 8,498 | 3,094 | 85,013 |
| October 31, 2019 | 49,425 | 24,558 | 0 | 8,375 | 3,157 | 85,515 |
| September 30, 2019 | 49,662 | 24,179 | 0 | 8,277 | 3,120 | 85,238 |
| August 30, 2019 | 50,478 | 24,230 | 0 | 8,308 | 3,132 | 86,148 |
| July 31, 2019 | 50,189 | 23,579 | 0 | 8,344 | 3,148 | 85,260 |
| June 28, 2019 | 50,205 | 24,722 | 0 | 8,454 | 2,919 | 86,300 |
| May 31, 2019 | 50,394 | 24,009 | 0 | 8,353 | 2,948 | 85,704 |
| April 30, 2019 | 49,362 | 24,040 | 0 | 8,464 | 2,966 | 84,832 |
| March 29, 2019 | 48,271 | 24,268 | 0 | 8,209 | 2,653 | 83,401 |
| December 31, 2019 | 48,646 | 24,967 | 0 | 8,527 | 3,157 | 85,297 |
| December 31, 2018 | 49,090 | 24,189 | 0 | 7,941 | 2,706 | 83,926 |
| December 29, 2017 | 51,343 | 25,308 | 0 | 7,975 | 1,999 | 86,625 |
| December 30, 2016 | 52,496 | 20,453 | 0 | 7,578 | 2,191 | 82,718 |
| December 31, 2015 | 48,229 | 20,848 | 58 | 7,899 | 2,719 | 79,753 |
| December 31, 2014 | 43,756 | 19,000 | 116 | 8,164 | 3,664 | 74,700 |
| December 31, 2013 | 39,514 | 18,916 | 115 | 8,675 | 4,717 | 71,937 |
| December 31, 2012 | 35,622 | 19,621 | 181 | 8,754 | 4,368 | 68,546 |
| December 30, 2011 | 32,826 | 19,985 | 167 | 8,966 | 3,875 | 65,819 |
| December 31, 2010 | 26,677 | 18,211 | 153 | 9,054 | 3,056 | 57,151 |
| December 31, 2009 | 23,879 | 18,723 | 119 | 9,212 | 2,424 | 54,357 |
Future release dates
The next release is May 5, 2020 (covering the period of April 2020).
For further information on the Exchange Fund Account, please consult the Report on the Management of Canada's Official International Reserves—April 1, 2018 – March 31, 2019.
Contacts
For further information, media may contact:
Media Relations
Department of Finance Canada
fin.media-media.fin@canada.ca
613-369-4000
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