Malaysia's reserves remain usable, says BNM

The detailed breakdown of Malaysia's international reserves under the International Monetary Fund's Special Data Dissemination Standard (IMF SDDS) format indicates that as at end-January 2017, the country's reserves remained usable.

In a statement today, Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) said the official reserve assets amounted to US$94.98 billion, while other foreign currency assets were at US$348.6 million as at end-January 2017.

The central bank said for the next 12 months, the pre-determined short-term outflows of foreign currency loans arising from scheduled repayment of external borrowings by the government would amount to US$247.5 million.

Meanwhile, the short forward positions amounted to US$9.62 billion as at end-January 2017, reflecting efforts to manage the ringgit liquidity in the financial system.

The central bank said in line with the practice adopted since April 2006, the data excluded projected foreign currency inflows arising from interest income and the drawdown of project loans amounting to US$2.25 billion in the next 12 months.

BNM said the only contingent short-term net drain on foreign currency assets were government guarantees of foreign debt due within one year, amounting to US$84.7 million.

"There are no foreign currency loans with embedded options, no undrawn, unconditional credit lines provided by or to other central banks, international organisations, banks and other financial institutions.

"BNM also does not engage in foreign currency options vis-a-vis ringgit," it said. -- Bernama