How Did India’s Forex Reserves Surge by $4.03 Billion?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- India's forex reserves increased by $4.03 billion.
- Total reserves now stand at $698.26 billion.
- Foreign currency assets rose to $584.47 billion.
- Gold reserves jumped to $90.29 billion.
- The RBI actively manages market stability.
New Delhi, Sep 12 (NationPress) - India’s foreign exchange reserves have experienced a remarkable increase of $4.03 billion, reaching $698.26 billion as of the week ending September 5, based on the latest data from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released on Friday.
This rise follows a previous increase of $3.51 billion in the preceding week, bringing the total reserves to $694.2 billion as of August 29.
The RBI's report indicated that foreign currency assets (FCAs), the most substantial segment of the reserves, surged by $540 million to $584.47 billion.
These assets comprise currencies such as the euro, pound, and yen, with their dollar value also reflecting fluctuations in exchange rates.
A significant contributor to this growth was the jump in gold reserves, which soared by $3.53 billion to $90.29 billion during the week.
In contrast, special drawing rights (SDRs) remained stable at $18.74 billion, according to the central bank’s statistics.
Moreover, India's reserve position with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) rose slightly by $2 million to $4.75 billion.
The RBI regularly intervenes in the forex market to manage abrupt fluctuations in the rupee.
Officials clarify that these interventions are aimed at promoting stability rather than fixing the currency at a specific level, thereby preventing sharp volatility.
With reserves approaching the $700 billion mark, analysts suggest that this robust buffer will empower India to withstand external shocks and instill confidence among global investors during uncertain times.
Meanwhile, for the week ending August 29, foreign currency assets, a vital component of the reserves, experienced an increase of $1.69 billion to $583.94 billion.
When expressed in dollar terms, the foreign currency assets reflect the impact of the appreciation or depreciation of non-US units such as the euro, pound, and yen held in the foreign exchange reserves.
For the week ending August 29, the gold segment of the forex reserves also experienced a rise of $1.77 billion to $86.77 billion.