Belarusian gold, forex reserves to IMF standards climb 0.7% in Jan
MINSK. Feb 7 (Interfax) - Gold and foreign currency reserves in Belarus went up 0.7% to IMF standards in January 2012, rising by $52.3 million to $7.97 billion, the National Bank of Belarus said in a press release.
By the national definition, the country's gold and foreign currency reserves reached $9.49 billion on February 1 2012, climbing $106.3 million, or 1.1%, in January.
"The increase in gold and foreign currency reserves in Belarus in January 2012 was encouraged by a rise in gold prices on the international precious metals market and a surplus [for the National Bank] in the foreign currency sell-buy balance on the Belarusian Currency Stock Market," the release said.
The National Bank and the government met all foreign and domestic foreign currency obligations, the National Bank said.
Gold and foreign currency reserves climbed 57.4% to IMF standards in 2011 to reach $7.91 billion.