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Statistical Supplement to the Federal Reserve Bulletin, November 2008

3.12  U.S. Reserve Assets
Millions of dollars, end of period
Asset 2005 2006 2007 2008
Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept Octp
1 Total 65,127 65,895 70,565 75,764 74,372 75,170 75,740 74,832 72,560 71,834 69,763
 
2 Gold stock1 11,043 11,041 11,041 11,041 11,041 11,041 11,041 11,041 11,041 11,041 11,041
3 Special drawing rights2, 3 8,210 8,870 9,476 9,892 9,767 9,771 9,849 9,772 9,494 9,418 9,001
4 Reserve position in International Monetary Fund2 8,036 5,040 4,244 4,302 4,253 5,111 5,237 4,930 4,774 4,750 4,433
5 Foreign currencies4 37,838 40,943 45,804 50,529 49,311 49,247 49,613 49,089 47,252 46,626 45,288

Note: The data presented in this table are available in the monthly statistical release "U.S. Reserve Assets; Foreign Official Assets Held at Federal Reserve Banks."

1. Gold held "under earmark" at Federal Reserve Banks for foreign and international accounts is not included in the gold stock of the United States; see table 3.13, line 3. Gold stock is valued at $42.22 per fine troy ounce.   Return to table

2. Special drawing rights (SDRs) are valued according to a technique adopted by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in July 1974. Values are based on a weighted average of exchange rates for the currencies of member countries. From July 1974 through December 1980, sixteen currencies were used; since January 1981, five currencies have been used. U.S. SDR holdings and reserve positions in the IMF have also been valued on this basis since July 1974.   Return to table

3. Includes allocations of SDRs by the International Monetary Fund on Jan. 1 of the year indicated, as follows: 1970--$867 million; 1971--$717 million; 1972--$710 million; 1979--$1,139 million; 1980--$1,152 million; 1981--$1,093 million; plus net transactions in SDRs.   Return to table

4. Includes holdings of Treasury and Federal Reserve System; beginning November 1978, these are valued at current market exchange rates or, where appropriate, at such other rates as may be agreed upon by the parties to the transactions. Excludes outstanding reciprocal currency swaps with foreign central banks. At end-October 2008 total swaps outstanding were $533.564 billion: $295.381 billion with the European Central Bank, $28.48 billion with the Swiss National Bank, $72.365 billion with the Bank of England, $70.168 billion with the Bank of Japan, $26.67 billion with the Reserve Bank of Australia, $15 billion with the National Bank of Denmark, $20 billion with the Bank of Sweden, and $5.5 billion with the Bank of Norway.   Return to table

 

3.13  Foreign Official Assets Held at Federal Reserve Banks1
Millions of dollars, end of period
Asset 2005 2006 2007 2008
Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept Octp
1 Deposits 83 98 96 98 105 99 211 103 99 121 184
 
  Held in custody  
2 U.S. Treasury securities2 1,069,014 1,133,969 1,191,706 1,275,124 1,310,649 1,315,616 1,348,988 1,375,199 1,397,692 1,443,421 1,521,445
3 Earmarked gold3 8,967 8,967 8,710 8,595 8,548 8,534 8,521 8,494 8,487 8,440 8,426

Note: The data presented in this table are available in the monthly statistical release "U.S. Reserve Assets; Foreign Official Assets Held at Federal Reserve Banks."

1. Excludes deposits and U.S. Treasury securities held for international and regional organizations.   Return to table

2. Marketable U.S. Treasury bills, notes, and bonds and nonmarketable U.S. Treasury securities, in each case measured at face (not market) value.   Return to table

3. Held in foreign and international accounts and valued at $42.22 per fine troy ounce; not included in the gold stock of the United States.   Return to table

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Last update: November 26, 2008