The Monetary Authority of Macao announced today that the preliminary estimate of Macao SAR’s foreign exchange reserves amounted to MOP165.7 billion (USD20.72 billion) at the end of July 2010. The reserves rose by 1.2% from MOP163.7 billion (USD20.42 billion) for the previous month. When compared with a year earlier, the reserves increased by MOP25.0 billion or 17.7%. Macao SAR’s foreign exchange reserves at end-July 2010 represented 33 times the currency in circulation or 271.4% of Pataca M2 at end-June 2010.

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, fell by 1.04 points month-to-month but increased by 0.81 points year-on-year to 91.25 in July 2010.

For enquiry, please contact:

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