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Hong Kong Monetary Authority
Hong Kong Monetary Authority

Press Release

Hong Kong's Latest Foreign Currency Assets Figures Released

 

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) announced today (8 November) that the official foreign currency assets of Hong Kong amounted to US$90.4 billion at the end of October 1999, unchanged from the end-September position (Table 1).

Including unsettled forward contracts, the foreign currency assets of Hong Kong at the end of October 1999 also stood at US$90.4 billion (end-September: US$90.4 billion).

In terms of foreign currency reserves ranking, Hong Kong is the world's fifth largest holder of foreign currency reserves after Japan, Mainland China, Taiwan and Germany (Table 2).

The total foreign currency assets of US$90.4 billion represent over seven times the currency in circulation or about 38% of Hong Kong dollar M3, which is one of the highest ratios in the world.

 

Hong Kong Monetary Authority

8 November 1999


Table 1

Foreign Currency Assets of Hong Kong

(US$ billion)

 

            Excluding                   Including
            Unsettled     Unsettled     Unsettled
            FX Contracts  FX Contracts  FX Contracts
Dec 95      55.4          1.8           57.2 
Dec 96      63.8          5.7           69.6 
Dec 97      92.8          0.4           93.2
Jan 98      98.1            -           98.1 
Feb 98      96.7            -           96.7 
Mar 98      96.8          0.1           96.9 
Apr 98      96.2         (0.1)          96.1 
May 98      96.4            -           96.4 
Jun 98      96.5            -           96.5 
Jul 98      96.5         (0.5)          96.0 
Aug 98      92.1         (4.5)          87.6 
Sep 98      88.4         (0.2)          88.2 
Oct 98      88.7         (0.2)          88.5 
Nov 98      88.6            -           88.6 
Dec 98      89.6            -           89.6
Jan 99      90.1            -           90.1
Feb 99      89.8            -           89.8
Mar 99      89.5            -           89.5
Apr 99      89.5            -           89.5
May 99      88.9            -           88.9
Jun 99      88.6            -           88.6
Jul 99      89.1            -           89.1
Aug 99      89.2          0.1           89.3
Sep 99      90.4            -           90.4
Oct 99      90.4            -           90.4

Figures for the end of 1995 and 1996 do not include Land Fund figures. The Land Fund was established on 1 July 1997. For July 97 to October 98 inclusive, the foreign currency assets of Hong Kong were compiled as the aggregate of Exchange Fund and Land Fund figures. In November 1998, the assets of the Land Fund were merged into the Exchange Fund.


Table 2

Foreign Currency Reserves Ranking

                       US$ billion     As at end of
(1)  Japan             272.8           Oct 1999
(2)  China             151.5           Sep 1999
(3)  Taiwan            102.7           Oct 1999
(4)  Germany           95.2            Sep 1999
(5)  Hong Kong         90.4            Oct 1999
(6)  Singapore         76.4            Sep 1999
(7)  US                73.5            Sep 1999
(8)  France            72.9            Sep 1999
(9)  Korea             66.2            Oct 1999
(10) Italy             46.4            Sep 1999

Sources: HKMA, Reuters, Deutsche Bundesbank, Monetary Authority of Singapore, U.S. Department of Treasury, Bank of Italy.

 


Source: Hong Kong Monetary Authority
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