MINSK, 13 January (BelTA) – In December 2016 Belarus' official reserve assets and other assets in foreign currencies shrank by 2.9% to $5.375 billion as of 1 January 2017, BelTA learned from the latest statistics report released by the National Bank of the Republic of Belarus (NBRB).
In the structure of foreign currency assets of Belarusian government agencies and official institutions the reserve assets amounted to $4.927 billion as of 1 January, up from $4.838 billion as of 1 December. Of the total sum convertible currency assets made $2.42 billion, Special Drawing Rights (SDR) amounted to $499.8 million, the value of gold (including borrowed gold) was estimated at $1.72 billion, while other reserve assets totaled $286.9 million.
As of 1 January other assets in foreign currency and gold outside the reserve assets (fluid assets in banks with a rating below the investment category in accordance with Fitch Ratings, Standard & Poor's, and Moody's Investors Service) amounted to $448.3 million. The number included deposits ($438.2 million) and gold deposits ($10.1 million).
As of 1 January the amount of money Belarusian government agencies and official institutions are supposed to spend over the course of one year was estimated at $4.795 billion. The money will have to be paid on loans and securities.
Belarus' contingent liabilities in foreign currency may require paying out nearly $978.8 million within 12 months after 1 January 2017.
