OREANDA-NEWS. July 19, 2011. Belarus’ gold and foreign exchange reserves [calculated under the national methodology] went down 8.2% in January-June 2011 to USD 5.65 billion, according to the National Bank of Belarus (NBB).

The volume of gold and foreign exchange reserves was affected by Belarus’ repayment of foreign and internal commitments in foreign exchange amounting to an equivalent of USD 227 million, as well as changes in precious metals prices on the world market.

In June alone, foreign exchange reserves went up by USD 546.6 million. The increase was facilitated by the receipt of the first installment of the EurAsEC Bailout Fund loan to the amount of USD 800 million.

Foreign exchange reserves had decreased 6.6% to USD 2.641 billion by July 1, 2011.

The amount of precious metals and stones in the NBB reserves increased 15.2% in January-June to USD 2.077 billion, of monetary gold amounted to USD 1.521 billion as of July 1, 2011, down 4.9% from January 1, 2011, of gold on foreign bank accounts was at USD 368 million, of other precious metals went up 12.9% to USD 149.9 million, and of precious stones went down 46% to USD 38.2 million.

Other reserve assets decreased 38.8% to USD 931.9 million as of July 1, 2011.

In 2010, Belarus’ gold and foreign exchange reserves rose 3% to USD 6.155 billion.