CBM sells $144.8 mln in past eight months

The Central Bank of Myanmar (CBM) sold US$144.8 million at its auction rate in the past eight months from February to 15 September, according to the CBM.
According to monthly sales of US dollars from February to 15 September 2021, the CBM sold $6.8 million in February, $12 million in April, $24 million in May, $12 million in June, $39 million in July and $28 million in August. But, there is no sale in March.
In September, the CBM reportedly sold $15 million on 13 September while $8 million on 15 September at the foreign currency auction rate.
The CBM is carrying out an auction for foreign exchange to reduce the fluctuation of foreign exchange rates in a short-term period and fulfil the needs of foreign exchange reserves.
Rules and directives have been set out for the CBM’s auctions. Following these rules and directives, the CBM is trading the foreign currency through three State-owned banks, 19 local private banks and 13 foreign banks, which are holding authorized dealer-AD licences.
The local forex market’s data showed that the dollar exchange rate touched the maximum of K1,345 and the minimum of K1,327 in January 2021. The rate moved in the range of K1,335-1,465 in February. It reached the lowest of K1,420 and the highest of K1,550 in March. The rate fluctuated between K1,550 and K1,610 in April. The rate fluctuated between K1,585 and K1,730 in May and it moved to the maximum of K1,595-1,620 in June. The rate stood at K1,625-1,645 in July.
In 2020, the exchange rate moved in the range of K1,465-1,493 in January, K1,436-1,465 in February, K1,320-1,445 in March, K1,395-1,440 in April, K1,406-1,426 in May, K1,385-1,412 in June, K1,367-1,410 in July, K1,335-1,390 in August, K1,310-1,355 in September, K1,282-1,315 in October, K1,303-1,330 in November and K1,324-1,403 in December.
In 2019, the rates are pegged at K1,508-1,517 in July, K1,510-1,526 in August, K1,527-1,565 in September, K1,528-1,537 in October, K1,510-1,524 in November and K1,485-1,513 in December.
On 20 September 2018, the dollar exchange rate hit an all-time high of K1,650 in the local currency market. — Aye Maung/GNLM