The Bank of Korea on Nov. 4 reported USD 443.16 billion in foreign currency reserves as of Oct. 31, up USD 2.6 billion from a month ago. (Yonhap News)

By Aisylu Akhmetzianova

Foreign exchange reserves last month returned to growth due to higher returns from foreign currency assets and a rise in deposits denominated in other currencies at financial institutions.

The Bank of Korea on Nov. 4 said the figure on Oct. 31 reached USD 443.16 billion, up from USD 440.56 billion from late September.

By asset type, securities comprised the largest share of USD 382.43 billion, or 86.3%.

This was followed by deposits of USD 36.27 billion (8.2%), special drawing rights of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) with USD 15.41 billion (3.5%), gold USD 4.79 billion (1.1%) and an IMF position of USD 4.25 billion (1%).

The bank's Economic Statistics System said Korea ranked ninth worldwide in foreign exchange reserves as of Sept. 30, up from 11th in late August.

aisylu@korea.kr