Official Reserve Assets - Methodological Notes
Malta's Official Reserves refer to those external assets that are readily available to and controlled by monetary authorities (Central Bank of Malta) and the central government for meeting balance of payments financing needs, for intervention in exchange markets to affect the currency exchange rate, and for other related purposes (such as maintaining confidence in the currency and the economy, and serving as a basis for foreign borrowing). This definition is in line with the guidelines of the IMF's 6th edition Balance of Payments Manual (BPM6).
No relevant changes are introduced with BPM6 on transactions in reserve assets. However, some clarifications are introduced regarding the treatment of gold accounts. The main change is the breakdown between allocated and unallocated gold accounts (i.e. physical gold vs. gold accounts). In BPM6, monetary gold consists of gold bullion and unallocated gold accounts with nonresidents that give title to the delivery of gold.
From 2008, official reserve assets correspond to the Eurosystem definition of reserves which excludes holdings denominated in euro and/or vis-à-vis euro area residents.
Such information is to be treated as provisional. Revisions to such data may be found in the International Reserves Template which is updated by the end of the month following the reference date.