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Release at 8:15 a.m. EDT
Ottawa, May 4, 2005
2005-032

Official International Reserves

- Official International Reserves 2005 -


The Department of Finance announced today that Canada’s official international reserves decreased by an amount equivalent to US$649 million during April to US$35,601 million.

Details on the level and composition of Canada’s reserves as of April 30, 2005, as well as the major factors underlying the change in reserves, are provided below. All figures are in millions of US dollars unless otherwise noted.


Foreign Currency Reserves

Securities 29,397
Deposits   2,065
Total securities and deposits (liquid reserves) 31,462
Gold1 47
Special drawing rights (SDRs) 916
Reserve position in the IMF   3,176
Total:  April 30, 2005 35,601
March 31, 2005 36,250
Net change -649
Details on Deposits
Other central banks/Bank for International Settlements 561
Banks headquartered in Canada 0
   Of which: located abroad 0

Banks headquartered abroad 1,504
   Of which: located in Canada 0 _____
Total 2,065

Details of Net Change

Reserves management operations2 -792
Gains and losses on gold sales 0
Net investment gains and losses

   Return on investments3 288
   Foreign currency debt charges -77
   Revaluation effects4 -68
Net government operations5 0
Official intervention 0
Other transactions      0
Net change -649
Currency Composition of Deposits and Securities

US dollars 16,419
Euro 13,973
Yen 1,067
Other          3
Total 31,462

Predetermined Short-Term Drains on Foreign Currency Reserves (Nominal Value)6

0-1
month
1-3
months
3-12
months
Total

Foreign currency securities7 Principal -668 -2,761 -4,119 -7,548
Interest -296 -179 -757 -1,232
Aggregate short forward positions in foreign currencies vis-à-vis Canadian dollar 0 0 0 0
Aggregate long forward positions in foreign currencies vis-à-vis Canadian dollar      0         0         0         0
Total net drains -964 -2,940 -4,876 -8,780

Additional Information (Nominal Value)

Undrawn, unconditional credit lines with
banks headquartered outside Canada
6,000

Securities lent under repurchase agreements8 -2,801

Securities held under repurchase agreements9 204

Financial derivatives assets (net, marked to market)

   Forwards 0

   Swaps 413


Notes:

1. There were no sales of gold settled in April. On April 30, gold holdings stood at 0.1 million ounces. The valuation is based on the April 29, 2005, London p.m. fix of US$435.70 per ounce.

2. Net change in securities and deposits resulting from foreign currency funding activities of the Government. (Issuance of foreign currency liabilities used to acquire assets increases reserves, while maturities decrease reserves). During April, Canada bills decreased by US$1,042 million to a level of outstanding bills of US$2,151 million. Cross-currency swaps of domestic obligations raised US$250 million.

3. "Return on investments" comprises US$85 million of interest earned on investments and a US$203-million increase in the market value of securities resulting from changes in interest rates.

4. "Revaluation effects" reflect changes in the market value of reserve assets resulting from movements in exchange rates. In April, the decline in the revaluation effect was due to the depreciation of the euro.

5. "Net government operations" are the net purchases of foreign currency for government foreign exchange requirements and for additions to reserves.

6. Predetermined short-term drains include the Government’s contractual obligations in foreign currencies related to payments of principal and interest associated with securities and commitments under swaps and forward contracts coming due during the next 12 months.

7. "Foreign currency securities" include maturities of foreign currency debt, cross-currency swap payments and an estimate of interest payments on foreign currency liabilities.

8. "Securities lent under repurchase agreements" are included in total reserves. Collateral provided in securities-lending transactions is not included in total reserves.

9. Cash invested under repurchase agreements is included in total reserves. Collateral provided in securities-lending transactions is not included in total reserves.

Future Release Dates

The next release is June 3, 2005 (covering the period May 2005).

A list of upcoming release dates is posted on the Department of Finance website located at: www.fin.gc.ca/invest_x/releaseDates_e.asp

___________________
For further information:

Sandra Lavoratore
Financial Markets Division
(613) 947-3919
David Gamble
Public Affairs and Operations Division
(613) 996-8080 

For further information on the Exchange Fund Account, please consult the 2003 Report on the Management of Canada’s Official International Reserves, located at http://www.fin.gc.ca/toce/2004/oir04_e.html.

If you would like to receive automatic e-mail notification of all news releases, please visit the Department of Finance Canada website at http://www.fin.gc.ca/scripts/register_e.asp

Official International Reserves (10-Year Synopsis)


US dollars Other currencies Gold SDRs IMF position Total

(millions of US dollars)
April 30, 2005 16,419 15,043 47 916 3,176 35,601
March 31, 2005 17,080 15,043 47 916 3,164 36,250
February 28, 2005 15,947 15,434 47 925 3,208 35,561
January 31, 2005 15,138 15,246 46 905 3,255 34,590
December 31, 2004 14,427 15,740 48 925 3,327 34,467
November 30, 2004 14,113 15,663 49 912 3,334 34,071
October 31, 2004 17,271 15,001 46 880 3,262 36,460
September 30, 2004 17,527 14,633 45 862 3,198 36,265
August 31, 2004 17,022 14,623 44 857 3,345 35,891
July 31, 2004 16,747 14,299 43 845 3,267 35,201
June 30, 2004 16,646 14,545 43 849 3,335 35,418
May 31, 2004 16,358 15,315 43 851 3,411 35,978
April 30, 2004 15,712 15,112 42 832 3,415 35,113

Dec. 31, 2003 15,576 15,961 45 838 3,848 36,268
Dec. 31, 2002 17,946 14,739 205 712 3,567 37,169
Dec. 31, 2001 19,748 10,736 291 614 2,859 34,248
Dec. 31, 2000 21,692 7,327 323 574 2,508 32,424
Dec. 31, 1999 18,838 5,594 524 526 3,164 28,646
Dec. 31, 1998 15,907 4,004 122 1,097 2,297 23,427
Dec. 31, 1997 14,630 492 146 1,126 1,575 17,969
Dec. 31, 1996 17,521 507 155 1,168 1,227 20,578
Dec. 31, 1995 12,127 502 178 1,177 1,243 15,227
Dec. 31, 1994 9,693 526 199 1,148 910 12,475

Last Updated: 2005-05-04

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