Israel’s foreign exchange reserves at the end of December 2016 stood at $98,361 million, an increase of $1,234 million from their level at the end of the previous month.

 

The increase was the result of:

a.       Foreign currency purchases by the Bank of Israel totaling $1,140 million, of which $300 million were bought as part of the purchase program intended to offset the effects of natural gas production on the exchange rate.

b.      A revaluation[a] that increased the reserves by about $3 million.

c.       Government transfers from abroad totaling about $93 million.

 

These were partly offset by private sector transfers of about $2 million.

 

Israel's Foreign Exchange Reserves

$ million

 

Date

Reserves bought under the natural gas purchase program

Reserves excluding IMF (including reserves bought under the natural gas purchase program)

Reserves at the IMF[b]

Total Foreign Exchange Reserves

December 2015

8,700

88,942c

1,633

90,575c

January 2016

9,000

88,862c

1,625

90,487c

February 2016

9,000

89,341c

1,278

90,619c

March 2016

9,300

93,476c

1,304

94,780c

April 2016

9,300

94,378c

1,306

95,684c

May 2016

9,600

95,170

1,293

96,463

June 2016

9,600

95,594

1,041

96,635

July 2016

9,900

96,356

1,037

97,393

August 2016

9,900

96,588

1,038

97,626

September 2016

9,900

97,380c

1,049

98,429c

October 2016

10,200

96,931

1,032

97,963

November 2016

10,200

95,948

1,179

97,127

December 2016

10,500

97,190

1,171

98,361

 



[a] This includes Bank of Israel payments and receipts in foreign currency.

[b] This column includes Special Drawing Rights (SDRs), the balance of NAB loans, and the balance of Israel's reserve tranche in the IMF.

c Updated after the original date of publication.​