Do More With Reuters
Partner Services

Foreign central banks boost US debt holdings - Fed

Fri Jun 6, 2008 2:00am IST
 
Email | Print | | Single Page
[-] Text [+]

NEW YORK, June 5 (Reuters) - Foreign central banks were net buyers of U.S. Treasury debt and U.S. federal agency debt in the latest week, U.S. Federal Reserve data showed on Thursday.

The Fed said its holdings of Treasury and agency debt kept for overseas central banks rose $9.43 billion in the week ended June 4 to stand at $2.3021 trillion.

The breakdown showed overseas central banks bought $8.44 billion in Treasury debt, leaving the total at $1.350 trillion.

Foreign institutions bought securities from government-sponsored agencies like Fannie Mae (FNM.N: Quote, Profile, Research) and Freddie Mac (FRE.N: Quote, Profile, Research), adding $988 million to those holdings to stand at $952.37 billion.

Overseas central banks, particularly those in Asia, have been huge buyers of U.S. debt in recent years, and own over a quarter of marketable Treasuries.

The full Fed report can be found on:

here (Reporting by Chris Reese; Editing by James Dalgleish)

Dubai Debt Fears

Villas are seen on the The Palm, Jumeirah, with Atlantis, The Palm, under construction on the breakwater (crescent), May 3, 2008.  REUTERS/Jumana El Heloueh

Banks outside the Gulf played down their exposure to Dubai debt, after fears the emirate could default and even derail world economic recovery prompted a sell-off in global markets.  Full Article | Slideshow 

People light candles at a vigil to commemorate the victims of last year's militant attacks in Mumbai, in front of the India Gate in New Delhi November 26, 2009. Mumbai held tearful memorials and police staged a show of strength on Thursday as India's financial hub marked the first anniversary of militant raids that killed 166 people and pushed up tensions with Pakistan. REUTERS/Rupak De Chowdhuri
One Year Later

Mumbai held tearful memorials and police staged a show of strength as it marked the first anniversary of militant raids that killed 166 people and pushed up tensions with Pakistan.  Slideshow | Full Coverage