Archived - Official International Reserves: March 2014

Ottawa, March 5, 2014

- All 2014 Official International Reserves -

The Department of Finance announced today that Canada’s official international reserves increased by an amount equivalent to US$4,391 million during February to US$77,169 million.

Details on the level and composition of Canada’s reserves as of February 28, 2014, 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 63,071
Deposits 650

Total securities and deposits (liquid reserves): 63,721
Gold1 127
Special drawing rights (SDRs) 8,718
Reserve position in the IMF 4,603

Total:
February 28, 2014 77,169
January 31, 2014 72,778

Net change: 4,391

Details on Deposits

millions of US dollars
Other central banks/Bank for International Settlements 650
Banks headquartered in Canada 0
Of which: located abroad 0
Banks headquartered abroad 0
Of which: located in Canada 0

Total: 650

Details of Net Change

millions of US dollars
Reserves management operations2 3,826
Gains and losses on gold sales 0
Net investment gains and losses:
Return on investments3 81
Foreign currency debt charges -76
Revaluation effects4 560
Net government operations5 0
Official intervention 0
Other transactions 0

Net change: 4,391

Currency Composition of Deposits and Securities

millions of US dollars
US dollars 44,297
Euro 19,074
Yen 350

Total: 63,721

Predetermined Short-Term Drains on Foreign Currency Reserves (Nominal Value)

millions of US dollars

0-1 month 1-3 months 3-12 months Total
Foreign currency securities6:
Principal -1,329 -1,167 -6,963 -9,459
Interest -115 -143 -1,004 -1,262
Aggregate short forward positions in foreign currencies vis-à-vis Canadian dollar 0 -46 0 -46
Aggregate long forward positions in foreign currencies vis-à-vis Canadian dollar 0 0 0 0

Total net drains: -1,444 -1,356 -7,967 -10,768

Additional Information (Nominal Value)

millions of US dollars
Undrawn, unconditional credit lines with banks headquartered outside Canada 0
Securities lent under repurchase agreements7 0
Securities held under repurchase agreements8 325
Financial derivatives assets (net, marked to market):
Forwards -44
Swaps -2,315

NOTES:

  1. There were no sales of gold settled in February. On February 28, gold holdings stood at 95,895 ounces. The valuation is based on the February 28, 2014, London p.m. fix of US$1,326.50 per ounce.
  2. 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 February, Canada bills increased by US$389.6 million to a level of outstanding bills of US$2,332.9 million and Canada issued a 5-year US$3-billion global bond. In addition, a total of US$535.8 million of cross-currency swaps of domestic obligations was raised and an equivalent of US$99.3 million in foreign exchange swaps matured during the month.
  3. “Return on investments” comprises US$93 million of interest earned on investments and a US$12-million decrease in the market value of securities resulting from changes in interest rates.
  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 appreciation of the euro.
  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 28, 2014 44,297 19,424 127 8,718 4,603 77,169
January 31, 2014 40,411 18,917 120 8,642 4,688 72,778
December 31, 2013 39,514 18,916 115 8,675 4,717 71,937
November 29, 2013 39,852 18,813 122 8,648 4,603 72,038
October 31, 2013 39,152 18,821 130 8,663 4,731 71,497
September 30, 2013 39,190 18,656 130 8,641 4,775 71,392
August 30, 2013 38,667 17,938 139 8,583 4,601 69,928
July 31, 2013 38,392 18,066 133 8,571 4,595 69,757
June 28, 2013 38,090 17,634 121 8,528 4,513 68,886
May 31, 2013 38,787 18,868 142 8,499 4,399 70,695
April 30, 2013 39,200 19,286 150 8,594 4,405 71,635
March 31, 2013 38,253 18,860 165 8,534 4,396 70,208
February 28, 2013 37,049 19,115 166 8,629 4,399 69,358

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
December 31, 2008 22,804 18,733 95 991 1,249 43,872
December 31, 2007 19,257 20,057 91 1,015 661 41,081
December 31, 2006 15,608 17,590 69 963 833 35,063
December 31, 2005 16,842 13,822 56 897 1,401 33,018
December 31, 2004 14,426 15,740 48 925 3,327 34,466
December 31, 2003 15,575 15,961 45 838 3,848 36,267

The next release is April 3, 2014 (covering the period March 2014).

For further information on the Exchange Fund Account, please consult the Report on the Management of Canada's Official International Reserves—April 1, 2012 - March 31, 2013.

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Jack Aubry
Media Relations
Department of Finance
613-996-8080

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