As of the end of April, official reserve assets stood at $4.85 billion, up $173 million from March 31, the National Bank of Moldova reported.
The increase in official reserve assets was due to loans in favor of the Ministry of Finance, under the ECF (Extended Credit Facility) and EFF (Extended Fund Facility) V installment, disbursed by the International Monetary Fund to a total amount of $95.92 million. Additionally, the NBM intervened on the domestic foreign exchange market by buying $51 million.
The increase in assets was also due to the appreciation of the exchange rates of the component currencies of the foreign reserves against the US dollar ($20.89 million), but also to the income from the management of foreign reserves ($15.14 million). Additionally, the Ministry of Finance received $10.92 million in budget support from the European Commission, representing the second installment of the grant under the new macro-financial assistance program.
During the reporting period, the reduction of the official reserve assets was due to payments related to the external public debt service of the Republic of Moldova in the amount of $11.57 million. Net outflows of required foreign currency reserves of licensed banks amounted to $11.33 million. At the same time, the decrease was determined by the payments of the Ministry of Finance in the amount of$ 5.03 million.