Impact of US-Iran war, RBI sold $12 billion gold reserve to save foreign exchange! claim in report

RBI Sold $12 Billion Gold Reserves: The impact of situations like increasing geopolitical tension in West Asia and war between America and Iran is now visible on the global economy as well as India’s financial management. According to a recent report, the Reserve Bank of India has sold about $12 billion of its gold reserves to safeguard its foreign currency assets and stabilize the rupee. This move is being seen as a major strategy by the central bank to reduce unexpected risks arising in the market.

According to experts, whenever there is a war or any major crisis at the global level, investors around the world rush towards the US dollar as a safe investment. This results in a huge surge in the dollar index and puts huge pressure on emerging market currencies, such as the Indian rupee.

Why did RBI have to empty its gold reserves?

To deal with this situation, central banks have to foreign currency assets Rebalancing has to be done in the portfolio. The report claims that RBI has sold a part of the gold reserves under this strategy, so as to increase liquidity (cash availability) and to save the rupee from record decline by intervening in the foreign exchange market.

Top 10 countries with highest gold reserves

rank CountryGold reserves (in tonnes)
1America8,133.46
2Germany3,350.25
3Italy2,451.84
4France2,437
5Russia2,326.52
6China2,306.3
7Switzerland1,039.94
8India880.34
9Japan845.97
10Türkiye614.3

Is selling gold reserves a normal step?

Generally, central banks hold gold as a safe and long-term asset and it is not easily sold. However, in extreme circumstances, when the pressure on other parts of the foreign exchange reserves becomes too great, such tough decisions are taken.

Economic analysts believe that this decision to sell $12 billion of gold was completely based on ‘Tactical Asset Allocation’ (Tactical Asset Allocation). Its objective is to stabilize the value of the country’s total foreign exchange reserves and maintain India’s credibility in the international market.

What is the impact on Indian economy and rupee?

At present, the Indian Rupee is facing continuous pressure due to rising crude oil prices and geopolitical instability in the international market. India imports a large part of its oil needs, and the surge in crude oil prices due to the US-Iran crisis has increased the country’s import bill.

Use of this fund raised by RBI through gold reserve foreign exchange market Can be done to increase the supply of dollars. When there is sufficient availability of dollars in the market, the brakes can be applied on the sharp decline in the exchange rate of the rupee, which will help in controlling imported inflation in the country.

No official confirmation from RBI

Although no official confirmation or detailed statement has been issued by RBI on this report yet, banking sector experts say that the effects of this step will be clearly visible in the upcoming monetary policy reviews. In the coming times, the Central Bank will face a double challenge.

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RBI prepared for global crises

First, to bring the country’s gold reserves back to the same level and second, to protect the Indian market from external shocks in case geopolitical tensions continue at the global level. For now, this move has made it clear that RBI is fully prepared to take very aggressive and out-of-the-box decisions to deal with global crises.

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