International reserves and foreign currency liquidity of Qatar Central Bank (QCB) jumped in September 2023 by 12.8% to reach QR 242.739 billion, compared to QR 215.189 billion in September 2022.
The figures issued Sunday by QCB showed an increase in its official reserves at the end of last month, compared to what it was at the end of the same month last year, by about QR 26.471 billion, to reach QR 183.944 billion, driven by the increase in QCB balances of bonds and foreign treasury bills by about QR 20.674 billion, to the level of QR 132.189 billion in September 2023.
The official reserves consist of major components, which are foreign bonds and bills, cash balances with foreign banks, gold holdings, special drawing rights deposits, and Qatar’s share in the International Monetary Fund. In addition to the official reserves, there are other liquid assets (Foreign Currency Deposits), so the two together constitute what is known as the total foreign reserves.
Relatedly, gold reserves increased, as of the end of September 2023, by about QR 4.004 billion, compared to September 2022, to reach QR 21.226 billion.
Meanwhile, the State of Qatar’s shares of SDR deposits at the IMF increased as of the end of September 2023 by QR 159 million compared to September 2022, reaching QR 5.193 billion.
Balances in foreign banks rose by about QR 1.660 billion to reach QR 25.334 billion at the end of September 2023 compared to September 2022.
Source: Qatar News Agency