Did India’s Gold Reserves Surge by $2.2 Billion?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- India's gold reserves rose by $2.238 billion.
- Total forex reserves stand at $700.236 billion.
- Foreign currency assets valued at $581.757 billion.
- RBI interventions manage currency volatility.
- Strong reserves bolster investor confidence.
New Delhi, Oct 3 (NationPress) India’s gold reserves saw a remarkable increase of $2.238 billion, reaching a total of $95.017 billion for the week ending September 26, as per the latest statistics from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released on Friday.
The total foreign exchange reserves during this period were recorded at $700.236 billion. This marks a decline from the previous week’s level of $702.57 billion.
Foreign currency assets, which constitute the bulk of these reserves, were valued at $581.757 billion.
These assets experienced a drop during the week, with their dollar valuation also affected by fluctuations in major global currencies, including the euro, pound, and yen.
The Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) were pegged at $18.789 billion, while India’s reserve position with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) was reported at $4.673 billion for the week.
India’s forex reserves continue to hover near their all-time highs, providing a robust shield against external economic shocks and instilling confidence among global investors.
Experts suggest that this solid reserve position enables the RBI to effectively manage currency market volatility and bolster the rupee amid global uncertainties.
Notably, in the preceding week, the gold reserves had increased by $360 million to $92.78 billion.
During that week, foreign currency assets were valued at $586.15 billion.
The reserves also encompass special drawing rights (SDRs) and India’s reserve position with the IMF, which stood at $18.88 billion and $4.76 billion, respectively.
SDRs saw an uptick of $105 million, whereas the IMF reserve position rose by $2 million for the week ending September 19.
The RBI routinely intervenes in the foreign exchange market through liquidity operations, including the sale of dollars, to curb volatility in the rupee.
Officials indicate that such interventions aim at maintaining orderly market conditions rather than targeting a specific exchange rate.