2011.03.0623:20:00UTC+00Japanese Official Reserves Continue To Fall

Japanese official reserves decreased for the fourth consecutive month in February, data from the Ministry of Finance showed Monday. Reserve assets totaled US$1.09 trillion in February, down US$1.49 billion from the end of January.

Within official reserve assets, foreign currency reserves amounted to US$1.03 trillion in February. Reserve position with the International Monetary Fund rose to US$4.71 billion from US$4.67 billion in the previous month.

Special Drawing Rights came in at US$21.08 billion in February, larger than the prior month's balance of US$20.92 billion. Gold was valued at US$34.71 billion compared to US$32.65 billion in January.

Other reserve assets increased to US$440 million from US$438 million and other foreign currency assets rose slightly to US$28.32 billion from US$28.17 billion.

Other foreign currency assets include loans to the Japan Bank for International Cooperation in total of US$18 billion and loans to the IMF in total of US$10.28 billion.