Markets

India’s foreign exchange reserves rise to two-month high

Published February 28, 2025 Updated February 28, 2025 05:15pm
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MUMBAI: India’s foreign exchange reserves rose to a two-month high of $640.48 billion as of February 21, data released by the central bank on Friday showed.

The reserves rose by $4.76 billion in the reported week. They had fallen by $2.54 billion in the prior week, the most in a month.

Changes in foreign currency assets are caused by the central bank’s intervention in the forex market as well as the appreciation or depreciation of foreign assets held in the reserves.

The rupee, like its Asian peers, has been volatile amid uncertainty surrounding U.S. trade tariffs but periodic intervention by the central bank has helped cap large-scale losses in the domestic unit.

India’s forex reserves snap 3-week gaining streak

In the week to which the reserves data pertains, the rupee advanced 0.1% week-on-week, broadly benefiting from a weaker dollar.

The domestic unit ended at 87.4950 per dollar on Friday. It fell 1% in February, and had slipped to an all-time low of 87.95 during the month.

Foreign exchange reserves include India’s Reserve Tranche position in the International Monetary Fund.

Foreign exchange reserves (in million US dollars)--------------------------------------------------                              Feb 21       Feb 14                               2025         2025--------------------------------------------------Foreign currency assets      543,843      539,591Gold                          74,576       74,150SDRs                          17,971       17,897Reserve Tranche Position       4,090        4,083--------------------------------------------------Total                        640,479      635,721--------------------------------------------------