Russia’s FX, gold reserves rise 0.5% to $489.5 bln in Mar 22–29

MOSCOW, Apr 4 (PRIME) -- Russia’s foreign exchange and gold reserves increased 0.5% from March 22 through March 29 to U.S. $489.5 billion, the central bank said in a statement on Thursday.

In 2018, Russia’s foreign exchange and gold reserves grew 8.3% to $468.5 billion.

Foreign exchange and gold reserves comprise monetary gold, foreign currency and Special Drawing Rights, which are the International Monetary Fund’s currency.

Foreign currency includes the foreign currencies of the central bank and the Finance Ministry in paper money, reverse repo agreements with nonresidents, accounts with foreign banks rated at least A by Fitch and Standard & Poor’s and at least A2 by Moody’s, as well as government or other bonds issued by nonresidents with similar ratings.

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