The central bank said the reserves position is sufficient to finance 7.4 months of retained imports and is 1.0 times the short-term external debt.

In a statement today, BNM said the main components of the international reserves as of Feb 28 comprised foreign currency reserves at US$96.5 billion, International Monetary Fund reserves at US$900 million, Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) at US$1.1 billion, gold at US$1.6 billion and other reserve assets at US$2.3 billion.

It said the assets also included Malaysian government papers (RM2.82 billion), deposits with financial institutions (RM2.47 billion), loans and advances (RM7.13 billion), land and buildings (RM4.17 billion) and other assets (RM11.19 billion).

Capital and liabilities comprised paid-up capital of RM100 million, reserves RM135.73 billion, currency in circulation RM108.99 billion, deposits by financial institutions RM161.86 billion, federal government deposits RM12.02 billion, other deposits RM931.87 million, Bank Negara papers RM21.79 billion, allocation of SDRs RM7.74 billion and other liabilities RM1.89 billion.