Information notice on the official gold and foreign exchange reserves of theSouth African Reserve Bank as at 30 November 2009 This notice provides detail of the US dollar equivalent of the level of the South African Reserve Bank’s official gold and foreign exchange reserves, foreign deposits received from customers and the level of outstanding foreign loans published today in the Bank’s Statement of Assets and Liabilities as at 30 November 2009. It also presents the level of foreign exchange forward and international liquidity positions as at the same date.  As at30 November 2009(million)As at31 October 2009(million)Change (3) (million)Gold reserves (1)US$4 695US$4 187US$509SDR holdingsUS$2 880US$2 838US$42Foreign exchange reservesUS$32 914US$32 763US$150Gross reservesUS$40 489US$39 788US$701Foreign loans-US$350-US$350US$0Foreign deposits received-US$491-US$655US$164Forward position (2)-US$60US$1-US$61International liquidity position(Net reserves)US$39 587US$38 784US$804EUR/US$ exchange rateGBP/US$ exchange rateUS$/ZAR exchange rateSDR/US$ exchange rateMarket gold price (1)Statutory gold priceUS$1.50285US$1.64940R7.4300US$1.61044US$1 169.70R8 690.871US$1.4812US$1.65375R7.7100US$1.58723US$1 043.20R8 043.072  The gross gold and foreign exchange reserves increased to US$40,5 billion and the international liquidity position to US$39,6 billion at the end of November 2009. The change in the gold and foreign exchange reserves was mainly due to the foreign exchange operations of the Bank and valuation adjustments. Foreign deposits received declined as a result of withdrawals by the Government to meet its foreign exchange obligations. In line with the separate disclosure contained in SARB's Statement of Assets and Liabilities released today, the Bank will henceforth reflect its holdings of Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) separately on its monthly information notice on the official gold and foreign exchange reserves. The SDR is an interest-bearing international asset created by the IMF in 1969 to supplement other reserve assets of member countries. It is allocated in terms of a member’s quota, which is based on its relative size in the world economy. South Africa’s quota is currently SDR1,868 billion. In response to the global economic crisis, the IMF has approved a general allocation of SDRs equivalent to US$250 billion to member countries with effect from 28 August 2009. The IMF has also approved a special one-time allocation to member countries equivalent to US$33 billion, which became effective on 9 September 2009. South Africa’s share in these allocations amounted to US$2,166 billion and US$283 million, respectively. 1     Gold in US dollar terms is reflected at mid-market rates. For reporting purposes all foreign currency figures have been converted to US dollar at mid-market rates at month end.2     The forward position comprises unsettled foreign currency spot transactions.3     Figures might not add up due to rounding. ​