The Monetary Authority of Macao announced today that the preliminary estimate of Macao SAR’s foreign exchange reserves amounted to MOP131.6 billion (USD16.48 billion) at the end of February 2009. The reserves rose by 1.9% from the revised value of MOP129.2 billion (USD16.17 billion) for the previous month. When compared with the same period last year, the reserves increased by MOP19.8 billion or 17.7%. Macao SAR’s foreign exchange reserves at end-February 2009 represented 26 times the currency in circulation or about 233.3% of Pataca M2 at end-January 2009.

The trade-weighted effective exchange rate index for the pataca, a gauge of the domestic currency’s exchange rates against the currencies of Macao’s major trading partners, rose by 1.11 points month-to-month and 4.54 points year-on-year to 93.25 in February 2009.

For enquiry, please contact:

Research and Statistics Department, Monetary Authority of Macao (Tel: 83952532; Fax: 28353042)

發放日期 / Data de divulgação / Release Date: 31/3/2009