The central bank incurred net foreign exchange (FX) losses of P4.55 billion as of end-September after a P6.13 billion realized losses in the third quarter due to fluctuations in FX rates from its foreign currency-denominated activity.
The July to September net FX losses is the biggest for the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) so far for this year, after P441 million net losses in the second quarter, based on its preliminary financial statement.

In the first three months of the year, before the pandemic was declared all over the world, the BSP reported a P2.02 billion net FX gains.
Compared to same time in 2019, the BSP had a P14.36 billion net FX gains which accumulated to P14.72 billion by the end of last year.
The FX rate fluctuations come from the BSP’s foreign currency transactions such as FX investments, servicing of maturing obligations and derivatives.
For the first nine months, the BSP reported lower net income of P22.81 billion or 40 percent lower from P38.65 billion in end-September 2019. For the third quarter, net income was at P9.09 billion from P8.77 billion in 2019.
Revenues amounted to P81.16 billion from P95.32 billion same period last year. The revenues in the third quarter totaled P34.25 billion from P30 billion in 2019. Interest income which came from BSP’s international reserves, domestic securities, loans and advances, dropped to P62.18 billion from P78.29 billion while miscellaneous income from trading, fees, penalties, and other operating income, increased to P18.89 billion from P16.78 billion.
BSP’s expenses as of end-September fell to P53.65 billion versus P62.28 billion same time in the past year. Interest expenses slightly moved at P33.15 billion from P33.72 billion.
During the period, the BSP’s biggest expenses came from its interests paid on its overnight deposit facility of P9.96 billion followed by interests on National Government deposits of P9.24 billion. Maintaining the term deposit facility cost the BSP P6.19 billion in interests.
The BSP sometimes incur financial losses because of currency fluctuations and it is the management of these currency fluctuations that ensure financial stability.
Gains or losses from changes in the exchange rates are realized only when the foreign currency is repatriated to local currency, or it is used to pay foreign obligations or upon maturity of a foreign currency-denominated derivatives.