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Russian Reserve Fund down to $32.57 bln, National Wealth Fund at $73.84 bln — ministry

In September, the Finance Ministry did not transfer money from the Reserve Fund to cover the budget deficit

MOSCOW, October 4. /TASS/. Russia’s Reserve Fund in September decreased 2.5% to 2.037 trillion rubles ($32.57 bln), while the National Wealth Fund lost 2.2% and stands at 4.617 trilion rubles ($73.84 bln), the Russian Finance Ministry said Tuesday.

In September, the Finance Ministry did not transfer money from the Reserve Fund to cover the budget deficit. In August, the ministry for the third time in 2016 transferred money from the fund to cover the budget deficit in the amount of 390 bln rubles ($6.24 bln). In April and May 2016, the Ministry of Finance also spent 390 bln rubles ($6.24 bln) each month from the Reserve Fund to cover the budget deficit. Thus, 1.17 trillion rubles ($18.72 bln) were used from the fund to cover the budget deficit in 2016.

According to the Finance Ministry, total calculated income from placing funds of the Reserve Fund in foreign currency accounts of the Central Bank, translated into US dollars from January 15 to September 30, 2016, was $250 mln, which is equivalent to 15.67 bln rubles ($250.67 mln). The exchange rate difference from recalculating balances on these accounts from January 1 to September 30, 2016, amounted to a negative value (-) 433.38 bln rubles ($6.9 bln).

As of October 1, 2016, the volume of the National Welfare Fund amounted to $73.11 bln. Vnesheconombank deposits have 195.03 bln rubles ($3.12 bln) and $6.25 bln, $3 bln in Ukrainian Eurobonds, securities of Russian companies implementing infrastructure projects selected by the government - 112.63 bln rubles ($1.8 bln) and $4.11 bln, in preferred shares of credit institutions - 278.99 bln rubles ($4.46 bln). In addition, 164.43 bln rubles ($2.65 bln) was placed on deposits in VTB and Gazprombank to finance infrastructure projects.

The total income from placing the Fund's assets in authorized financial assets, except funds on the Central Bank’s deposits, in January-September 2016 amounted to 25.96 bln rubles ($415.43 mln).