Friday, April 12, 2013

BoU halts US dollar monthly transactions

y MARTIN LUTHER OKETCH

President Museveni addresses investors at Sheraton Kampala Hotel yesterday.
President Museveni addresses investors at Sheraton Kampala Hotel yesterday. Uganda’s economy is projected to grow to between 6 and 7 per cent this financial year. PHOTO BY STEPHEN WANDERA. 


The Central Bank has temporary stopped the purchasing of monthly $50 to $100 million from the domestic money market saying that the market conditions are unfavourable.
Bank of Uganda (BoU) has over the past two years been purchasing United States dollars from the domestic market for foreign exchange build up and policy operations in the foreign exchange market.
“Bank of Uganda was purchasing dollars in the range of $50 million to $100 million per month. However, we have stopped purchasing dollars at the moment,” said the BoU executive director of research, Dr Adam Mugume, on Wednesday.
The halt in dollar purchases from the market coupled with demand by offshore investors in government securities increased export earnings, reducing in the country’s import bill. This has seen the Shilling appreciating against the dollar in the last two weeks.

Reserves
Dr Mugume explained that the stock of reserves as at end of February 2013 amounted to $3,046 million which is equivalent to 4.4 months of future imports of goods and services
Explaining how Uganda’s export abroad faired in the past months, Dr Mugume said exports increased by in February 2013. However, coffee exports recorded a 0.2 per cent decline month on month, on account of lower volumes and price.
The period under review has seen Uganda’s balance of payment improving on account of increased export earnings. Dr Mugume said trade balance improved mainly due to 4.9 per cent increase in exports.

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