Archived - Official International Reserves - December 3, 2020

All 2020 Official International Reserves -

The Department of Finance Canada announced today that Canada's official international reserves increased by an amount equivalent to US$870 million during November to US$91,742 million. This was driven by reserves management funding operations (US$126 million)[1]and a net gain in investments (US$744 million).[2]

Details on the level and composition of Canada's reserves as of November 30, 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.

Foreign currency reserves
  Millions of US dollars
Securities 75,518
Deposits 2,962
Total securities and deposits (liquid reserves): 78,480
Gold 0
Special drawing rights (SDRs) 8,859
Reserve position in the International Monetary Fund (IMF) 4,403
Total:  
  November 30, 2020 91,742
  October 30, 2020 90,872
Net change: 870
Details on deposits
  Millions of US dollars
Other central banks/Bank for International Settlements 2,962
Banks headquartered in Canada 0
  Of which: located abroad 0
Banks headquartered abroad 0
  Of which: located in Canada 0
Total: 2,962
Details of net change
  Millions of US dollars
Reserves management operations[1] 126
Gains and losses on gold sales 0
Net investment gains and losses:  
  Return on investments[3] 90
  Foreign currency debt charges -69
  Revaluation effects[4] 723
Net government operations[5] 0
Official intervention 0
Other transactions 0
Net change: 870
Currency composition of deposits and securities
  Millions of US dollars
US dollar 51,179
Euro 16,037
Pound sterling 6,620
Yen 4,644
Total: 78,480
Predetermined short-term drains on foreign currency reserves (nominal value)
Millions of US dollars
  0 to 1 month 1 to 3 months 3 to 12 months Total
Foreign currency securities:[6]        
  Principal -3,184 -4,755 -5,736 -13,675
  Interest -55 -139 -550 -745
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: -3,239 -4,895 -6,287 -14,420
Additional information (nominal value)
  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] 2,127
Financial derivatives assets (net, marked to market):  
  Forwards -5
  Swaps -3,164

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 November, Canada bills decreased by US$426.7 million to a level of outstanding bills of US$5,694.5 million. An equivalent of US$942.3 million in cross-currency swaps was raised while US$389.8 million in cross-currency swaps 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$64 million of interest earned on investments and a US$26 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 November, the revaluation effect was mainly due to the appreciation of the euro and the pound sterling.

[5] “Net government operations” are the net purchases of foreign currency for government foreign exchange requirements and for additions to 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.

Official international reserves (10-year synopsis)
Millions of US dollars
Date US dollars Other currencies Gold SDRs IMF position Total
November 30, 2020 51,179 27,301 0 8,859 4,403 91,742
October 30, 2020 51,276 26,506 0 8,744 4,346 90,872
September 30, 2020 51,347 25,969 0 8,719 4,122 90,157
August 31, 2020 51,001 25,908 0 8,803 4,183 89,895
July 31, 2020 52,027 25,442 0 8,766 4,165 90,400
June 30, 2020 51,047 23,649 0 8,534 4,047 87,277
May 29, 2020 52,199 23,016 0 8,424 3,733 87,372
April 30, 2020 52,701 22,850 0 8,387 3,384 87,322
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
 
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 January 6, 2021 (covering the period of December 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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