Foreign Exchange Reserves as at the End of
September 2011

The foreign exchange reserves of the Republic of China amounted to US$389.17 billion at the end of September 2011, showing a decrease of US$11.12 billion from the figure recorded at the end of the previous month.

The main factor responsible for the drop in foreign exchange reserves in September 2011 was that foreign investors sold substantial holdings in Taiwan’s equity and bond markets. They also reduced their NT dollar deposits sharply and repatriated earnings. These actions have resulted in increased demand for foreign exchange.
Moreover, the Euro and other major currencies depreciated against the US dollar. Foreign exchange reserves denominated in these currencies were worth less in terms of the base currency, the US dollar.
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Note: The market value of securities investment and deposits held by foreign portfolio investors at the end of September 2011 reached USD184.9 billion, equivalent to 48% of foreign exchange reserves.

Note: The next dissemination will be made at 16:20 p.m. on Nov 4, 2011;
the advance release calendar can be accessed on our website at:
http://www.cbc.gov.tw/ct.asp?xItem=30164&ctNode=515&mp=2