ArmInfo. Gross international reserves of Armenia for 9 months of 2018 sank by 7.1% to $ 2.149 billion. However, in quarterly terms, the dynamics improved: the decline that had deepened to 10.8% in the second quarter changed in the third quarter by 7.9% growth.
This is evidenced by the data of the Central Bank of Armenia. In the structure of reserves, $ 2.148 billion accounts for external assets in hard currency, which have undergone a quarterly increase of 8.1%. The share of SDR in the IMF was $ 1.6 million, a decline of 70.3% over the quarter. For 9 months, the share of SDR in the IMF decreased by 77.4%, and foreign assets in hard currency - by 6.9%. In year-over-year terms (Q3 2018 versus Q3 2017), gross international reserves increased by 2.6%, due to a similar increase in foreign assets in hard currency (2.6%) and a jump in the share of SDR in the IMF by 73%.
To note for comparison that in the third quarter of 2017, gross international reserves increased by 3.9%. In their structure, external assets in hard currency increased by 4.2%, while the share of SDR in the IMF decreased by 87.1%. The y-o-y dynamics at that time (Q3 2017 to Q3 2016) looked as follows: gross international reserves increased by 15%, foreign assets in hard currency - by 14.9%, and the share of SDR in the IMF - 2.3-fold. During the first 9 months of 2017, the decline in gross international reserves by 5% was triggered by a nearly similar decline in foreign assets in hard currency (4.9%) and a significant decrease in the share of SDR in the IMF (72.9%). To recall in 2017 gross international reserves of Armenia increased by 4.5% making $ 2,314 billion. The major share of them- $ 2,307 billion account for foreign assets in hard currency, and the share of SDR in the IMF was $ 7.2 million. In 2017 foreign assets in hard currency also increased by 4.5% while the share of SDR in the IMF grew 1.6-fold.
To note, the share of banking gold in Armenia's gross international reserves was zeroed in December 2003.