by BERNAMA/ pic by MUHD AMIN NAHARUL

BANK Negara Malaysia’s (BNM) international reserves was slightly higher at US$104.0 billion as at July 15 compared with US$103.4 billion as at June 30.

In a statement today, the central bank said the reserves position was sufficient to finance 8.5 months of retained imports and was 1.1 times total short-term external debt.

BNM said the main components of the international reserves (as at July 15, 2020) were foreign currency reserves (US$95.7 billion), International Monetary Fund reserves position (US$1.3 billion), Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) (US$1.1 billion), gold (US$2.2 billion), and other reserve assets (US$3.7 billion).

It said the assets comprised gold and foreign exchange and other reserves, including SDRs, which amounted to RM445.37 billion; Malaysian government papers (RM10.47 billion); deposits with financial institutions (RM2.27 billion); loans and advances (RM16.41 billion); land and buildings (RM4.17 billion); and other assets (RM12.31 billion).

Capital and liabilities comprised of paid-up capital (RM100 million), reserves (RM174.49 billion), currency in circulation (RM124.48 billion), deposits with financial institutions (RM133.67 billion), federal government deposits (RM17.40 billion), other deposits (RM14.70 billion), Bank Negara papers (RM13.32 billion), allocation of SDRs (RM7.93 billion), and other liabilities (RM4.91 billion).