Foreign exchange reserves

Definition

Strict definition is the total of a country's foreign currency deposits and bonds held by the central bank and monetary authorities. However, the term often refers to the total of a country's gold holdings, convertible foreign currencies held in its banks, plus special drawing rights (SDR) and exchange reserve balances with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Investing Essentials

Copyright © 2011 Campbell R. Harvey, Professor of Finance, Fuqua School of Business at Duke University


Term of the Day

Covenant defeasance
Covenant defeasance allows the issuer to remove the bond's covenants by placing the remaining payments with a trustee in escrow to be paid out on schedule.

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