The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) announced today (August 31) that the total assets of the Exchange Fund amounted to HK$4,403.7 billion as at July 31, 2026, HK$59.9 billion lower than that at the end of June 2026. Hong Kong dollar assets decreased by HK$77.2 billion while foreign currency assets increased by HK$17.3 billion.
      
     The decline in Hong Kong dollar assets was mainly due to the decrease in Exchange Fund Bills and Notes issued but not yet settled at month end, which was partly offset by mark-to-market revaluation of Hong Kong equities. The rise in foreign currency assets was mainly due to the increase in currency swap and interest income from investments, which were partly offset by mark-to-market revaluation of investments.
      
     The Currency Board Account shows that the Monetary Base at the end of July 2026 was HK$2,080.1 billion, grew by HK$5.1 billion, or 0.2 per cent from the end of June 2026. The growth was mainly due to the amortisation of discount on Exchange Fund Bills and Notes issued and the increase in the outstanding amount of Certificates of Indebtedness.
      
     The amount of Backing Assets increased by HK$6.2 billion, or 0.3 per cent, to HK$2,326.8 billion at the end of July 2026. The increase was mainly attributable to interest income from investments and the issuance of Certificates of Indebtedness, which were partly offset by mark-to-market revaluation of investments. The Backing Ratio increased from 111.84 per cent at the end of June 2026 to 111.86 per cent at the end of July 2026.
 
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     At present, four press releases relating to the Exchange Fund's data are issued by the HKMA each month. Three of these releases are issued to disseminate monetary data in accordance with the International Monetary Fund's Special Data Dissemination Standard (SDDS). The fourth press release, on the Exchange Fund's Abridged Balance Sheet and Currency Board Account, is made in accordance with the HKMA's policy of maintaining a high level of transparency. For the month of August 2026, the scheduled dates for issuing the press releases are as follows:
 

August 7  (Issued)	SDDS International Reserves (Hong Kong's Latest Foreign Currency Reserve Assets Figures)
August 14  (Issued)	SDDS Analytical Accounts of the Central Bank (Analytical Accounts of the Exchange Fund)
August 31	SDDS Template on International Reserves and Foreign Currency Liquidity
August 31	Exchange Fund Abridged Balance Sheet and Currency Board Account

Ends/Monday, August 31, 2026
Issued at HKT 16:30

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