PH GIR Hit $63.6B in January
The country’s gross international reserves (GIR) as of end-January 2011 rose to $63.6 billion, higher by $1.2 billion compared to the end-December 2010 GIR of $62.4 billion, according to Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Amando M. Tetangco Jr.
Foreign exchange inflows coming from the foreign currency deposits by the National Government (NG) of proceeds from its peso-denominated global bonds issuance maturing in 2036, as well as the foreign exchange operations and income from investments abroad of the BSP, contributed to the appreciable increase in the reserves level. These inflows were partially offset, however, by payments for maturing foreign exchange obligations of the NG and revaluation losses on the BSP’s gold holdings given the decrease in gold prices in the international market.
The preliminary end-January 2011 GIR could cover 10.5 months worth of imports of goods and payments of services and income. It was also equivalent to 11.1 times the country’s short-term external debt based on original maturity and 5.5 times based on residual maturity.
Net international reserves (NIR), which include revaluation of reserve assets and reserve-related liabilities, also rose by $1.2 billion to reach $63.6 billion as of end-January 2011, compared to the end-December 2010 NIR of $62.4 billion. NIR refers to the difference between the BSP’s GIR and total short-term liabilities.
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