Israel’s foreign exchange reserves at the end
of December 2018 stood at $115,279 million, an increase of $223 million from
their level at the end of the previous month. The reserves represent 31.3 percent
of GDP (Figure 1).
The increase was the result of:
a.
Foreign exchange purchases by the Bank of
Israel totaling $226 million, all of which were part of the purchase program
intended to offset the effects of natural gas production on the exchange rate.
b.
Government
transfers from abroad totaling about $338 million.
c.
Private
sector transfers of approximately $17 million
In contrast,
the increase was offset by a revaluation
that decreased the reserves by approximately $358 million.
Israel's Foreign Exchange Reserves ($ 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
|
Total Foreign Exchange Reserves
|
|
December 2017
|
12,000
|
111,487
|
1,524c
|
113,011c
|
|
January 2018
|
12,000
|
116,100c
|
1,522
|
117,622c
|
|
February 2018
|
12,304
|
114,783c
|
1,510c
|
116,293c
|
|
March 2018
|
12,447
|
114,609c
|
1,518
|
116,127c
|
|
April 2018
|
12,471
|
113,872
|
1,482
|
115,354
|
|
May 2018
|
12,625
|
113,239
|
1,461
|
114,700
|
|
June 2018
|
12,750
|
113,340c
|
1,492
|
114,832c
|
|
July 2018
|
12,750
|
114,292
|
1,490
|
115,782
|
|
August 2018
|
12,923
|
114,520
|
1,485
|
116,005
|
|
September 2018
|
12,939
|
113,980c
|
1,478
|
115,458c
|
|
October 2018
|
13,056
|
112,446
|
1,465
|
113,911
|
|
November 2018
|
13,274
|
113,405
|
1,651
|
115,056
|
|
December 2018
|
13,500
|
113,528
|
1,751
|
115,279
|
This column
includes Special Drawing Rights (SDRs), the balance of NAB loans, and the
balance of Israel's reserve tranche at the IMF.
Updated after the original date of publication.