Archived - Official International Reserves - March 3, 2021

All 2021 Official International Reserves -

The Department of Finance Canada announced today that Canada's official international reserves decreased by an amount equivalent to US$2,782 million during February to US$86,325 million. This was driven by reserves management funding operations (-US$1,822 million)[1] and a net loss in investments (-US$960 million).[2]

Details on the level and composition of Canada's reserves as of February 26, 2021, 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 70,029
Deposits 2,888
Total securities and deposits (liquid reserves): 72,917
Gold 0
Special drawing rights (SDRs) 8,760
Reserve position in the International Monetary Fund (IMF) 4,648
Total:  
  February 26, 2021 86,325
  January 29, 2021 89,107
Net change: -2,782
Details on deposits
  Millions of US dollars
Other central banks/Bank for International Settlements 2,888
Banks headquartered in Canada 0
  Of which: located abroad 0
Banks headquartered abroad 0
  Of which: located in Canada 0
Total: 2,888
Details of net change
  Millions of US dollars
Reserves management operations[1] -1,822
Gains and losses on gold sales 0
Net investment gains and losses:  
  Return on investments[3] -852
  Foreign currency debt charges -45
  Revaluation effects[4] -63
Net government operations[5] 0
Official intervention 0
Other transactions 0
Net change: -2,782
Currency composition of deposits and securities
  Millions of US dollars
US dollar 46,707
Euro 14,845
Pound sterling 6,820
Yen 4,545
Total: 72,917
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 -3,199 -3,001 -6,971 -13,171
  Interest -69 -126 -528 -724
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: -3,269 -3,127 -7,500 -13,895
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] 2,117
Financial derivatives assets (net, marked to market):  
  Forwards 20
  Swaps -2,496

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 February, Canada bills decreased by US$342 million to a level of outstanding bills of US$4,033 million. An equivalent of US$1,480 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$58 million of interest earned on investments and a US$910 million decrease 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 February, the revaluation effect was mainly due to the depreciation of the euro and the yen.

[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
February 26, 2021 46,707 26,210 0 8,760 4,648 86,325
January 29, 2021 49,007 26,666 0 8,781 4,653 89,107
December 31, 2020 49,236 27,584 0 8,886 4,722 90,428
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
 
December 31, 2020 49,236 27,584 0 8,886 4,722 90,428
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

Future release dates

The next release is April 7, 2021 (covering the period of March 2021).

For further information on the Exchange Fund Account, please consult the Report on the Management of Canada's Official International Reserves—April 1, 2019 – March 31, 2020.

Contacts

For further information, media may contact:

Media Relations
Department of Finance Canada
fin.media-media.fin@canada.ca
613-369-4000

Page details

Date modified: