Release at 8:15 a.m. EDT Ottawa, April 5, 2005 2005-025 - Official International Reserves 2005 - The Department of Finance announced today that Canada's official international reserves increased by an amount equivalent to US$689 million during March to US$36,250 million. Details on the level and composition of Canada's reserves as of March 31, 2005, 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 Securities 29,201 Deposits 2,922 Total securities and deposits (liquid reserves) 32,123 Gold1 47 Special drawing rights (SDRs) 916 Reserve position in the IMF 3,164 Total: March 31, 2005 36,250 February 28, 2005 35,561 Net change 689 Details on Deposits Other central banks/Bank for International Settlements 1,419 Banks headquartered in Canada 0 Of which: located abroad 0 Banks headquartered abroad 1,503 Of which: located in Canada 0 _____ Total 2,922 Details of Net Change Reserves management operations2 1,134 Gains and losses on gold sales 0 Net investment gains and losses Return on investments3 48 Foreign currency debt charges -115 Revaluation effects4 -378 Net government operations5 0 Official intervention 0 Other transactions 0 Net change 689 Currency Composition of Deposits and Securities US dollars 17,080 Euro 13,997 Yen 1,042 Other 4 Total 32,123 Predetermined Short-Term Drains on Foreign Currency Reserves (Nominal Value)6 0-1 month 1-3 months 3-12 months Total Foreign currency securities7 Principal -2,263 -806 -5,530 -8,599 Interest -72 -296 -861 -1,229 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 -2,335 -1,102 -6,391 -9,828 Additional Information (Nominal Value) Undrawn, unconditional credit lines with banks headquartered outside Canada 6,000 Securities lent under repurchase agreements8 -2,734 Securities held under repurchase agreements9 305 Financial derivatives assets (net, marked to market) Forwards 0 Swaps 1,239 Notes: There were no sales of gold settled in March. On March 31, gold holdings stood at 0.1 million ounces. The valuation is based on the March 31, 2005, London p.m. fix of US$427.50 per ounce. Net change in securities and deposits resulting from foreign currency funding activities of the Government. (Issuance of foreign currency liabilities used to acquire assets increases reserves, while maturities decrease reserves). During March, Canada bills increased by US$1,390 million to a level of outstanding bills of US$3,193 million. Cross-currency swaps of domestic obligations raised US$375 million, and a total of US$631 million equivalent in cross-currency swaps matured. "Return on investments" comprises US$91 million of interest earned on investments and a US$43-million decrease in the market value of securities resulting from changes in interest rates. "Revaluation effects" reflect changes in the market value of reserve assets resulting from movements in exchange rates. In March, the depreciation of the euro accounted for most of the revaluation effect. "Net government operations" are the net purchases of foreign currency for government foreign exchange requirements and for additions to reserves. Predetermined short-term drains include the Government's contractual obligations in foreign currencies related to payments of principal and interest associated with securities and commitments under swaps and forward contracts coming due during the next 12 months. "Foreign currency securities" include maturities of foreign currency debt, cross-currency swap payments and an estimate of interest payments on foreign currency liabilities. "Securities lent under repurchase agreements" are included in total reserves. Collateral provided in securities-lending transactions is not included in total reserves. Cash invested under repurchase agreements is included in total reserves. Collateral provided in securities-lending transactions is not included in total reserves. Future Release Dates The next release is May 4, 2005 (covering the period April 2005). A list of upcoming release dates is posted on the Department of Finance Web site located at: www.fin.gc.ca/invest_x/releaseDates_e.asp. ___________________ For further information: Sandra Lavoratore Financial Markets Division (613) 947-3919 David Gamble Public Affairs and Operations Division (613) 996-8080 For further information on the Exchange Fund Account, please consult the 2003 Report on the Management of Canada's Official International Reserves, located at http://www.fin.gc.ca/toce/2004/oir04_e.html. If you would like to receive automatic e-mail notification of all news releases, please visit the Department of Finance Canada Web site at http://www.fin.gc.cahttp://www.fin.gc.ca/scripts/register_e.asp. Official International Reserves (10-Year Synopsis) US dollars Other currencies Gold SDRs IMF position Total (millions of US dollars) March 31, 2005 17,080 15,043 47 916 3,164 36,250 February 28, 2005 15,947 15,434 47 925 3,208 35,561 January 31, 2005 15,138 15,246 46 905 3,255 34,590 December 31, 2004 14,427 15,740 48 925 3,327 34,467 November 30, 2004 14,113 15,663 49 912 3,334 34,071 October 31, 2004 17,271 15,001 46 880 3,262 36,460 September 30, 2004 17,527 14,633 45 862 3,198 36,265 August 31, 2004 17,022 14,623 44 857 3,345 35,891 July 31, 2004 16,747 14,299 43 845 3,267 35,201 June 30, 2004 16,646 14,545 43 849 3,335 35,418 May 31, 2004 16,358 15,315 43 851 3,411 35,978 April 30, 2004 15,712 15,112 42 832 3,415 35,113 March 31, 2004 16,194 15,723 46 847 3,602 36,412 Dec. 31, 2003 15,576 15,961 45 838 3,848 36,268 Dec. 31, 2002 17,946 14,739 205 712 3,567 37,169 Dec. 31, 2001 19,748 10,736 291 614 2,859 34,248 Dec. 31, 2000 21,692 7,327 323 574 2,508 32,424 Dec. 31, 1999 18,838 5,594 524 526 3,164 28,646 Dec. 31, 1998 15,907 4,004 122 1,097 2,297 23,427 Dec. 31, 1997 14,630 492 146 1,126 1,575 17,969 Dec. 31, 1996 17,521 507 155 1,168 1,227 20,578 Dec. 31, 1995 12,127 502 178 1,177 1,243 15,227 Dec. 31, 1994 9,693 526 199 1,148 910 12,475
