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SNB Results Q3 2012: SNB Radically Reduces Euro Share from 60% to 48%

SNB Q3 Profits: 10 billion francs

 

The Swiss National Bank (SNB) radically reduced its euro share, in the third quarter from 60% to 48%, and bought US dollars and sterling instead. In the second quarter, however, it increased the euro share from 51% to 60% and concentrated on buying euros. Given that the EUR/USD was valued around 1.24 in Q2 and 1.30 in September, this fluctuation of the euro share and the increase of EUR/USD from 1.24 to 1.30 contributed heavily to a big gain in foreign currency reserves of 5.2 bln. CHF (see details).

Thanks to the ECB Outright Monetary Transactions (OMT) and the Fed’s Q3, gold holdings appreciated by 10% between Q2 and Q3 and helped with 4.94 bln. francs gain to achieve very good results  in Q3 (here on SNB website).

 

snb profits in q3 2012 chf

SNB detailed results in Q3 2012

 

Our calculation gives 1.4 billion in pure Forex gains, i.e. price changes in the FX rates, without looking at the composition of the SNB portfolio. Changes to the composition of the Forex portfolio helped to achieve another 2 billion CHF income. Higher equity prices (from 10% to 12% of the SNB portfolio) helped more to achieve over 5 billion francs in FX positions.

Changes in the Foreign Currency Portfolio

The Swiss National Bank radically reduced the euro share in the third quarter from 60% to 48% and bought US dollars and sterling instead. In the second quarter, however, it increased the euro share from 51% to 60%. Given that the EUR/USD traded at 1.24 in Q2 and 1.30 in September by 5%, this heavily contributed to a gain in foreign currency reserves. We estimate 2 billion CHF in gains, the details are here.

q1-q3 snb currency breakdown usd eur gbp jpy

Q1-Q3 SNB Currency Breakdown - Click to enlarge

 

Pure Price Change in Foreign Currency

The EUR/CHF appreciated from 1.2009 (end June) to 1.2084 (end September), a change of 0.6%. Euro positions represented 60% of the SNB reserves in Q2, the equivalent of 262 bln. CHF. Therefore, the euro price increase helped to achieve another 1.6 bln. in profit.

The USD fell from 0.9488 at the end of June to 0.9400 at the end of September. 22% of reserves means 95.9 bln. CHF. By price change they were reduced to 95.0 bln. CHF; hence, a loss of 0.9 bln. francs.

The price for 100 yen fell from 84.12 to 82.63 CHF. Based on 8% reserves or 34.9 bln. francs in Q2, the value of the yen positions reduced to 34.55 bln., a loss of 0.35 bln. CHF.

The Loonie rose by 2% and sterling by 3% in the third quarter: Based on 6% reserves for these currencies, this gives a gain of 0.7 bln. francs.

Other currencies had a slightly positive performance of 1%: this gives a gain of 0.15 bln. francs.

  •  Australian dollar rose from 0.9713 to 0.9767 CHF.
  • The Swedish Krona fell from 7.30 to 6.98 in September.
  • The Singapore dollar rose 0.7499 to 0.7674 in September.
  • The euro-pegged DKK appreciated with the euro.

 

Hence the total Q3 result in pure currency price changes against CHF was 1.4 billion francs.

The following table gives an overview:

 Share in % and in bln. CHF Price Change since Q2 against CHFResult in Bln. CHF
EUR60% = 261bln0.6%1.60
USD22% = 96.9 bln-0.9%-0.70
JPY8% = 34.9 bln-1.8%-0.35
CAD, GBP6% = 26.8 bln2.5%0.70
Other currencies4% = 17.6 bln.1%0.15
Total pure FX price changes100% = 436 bln.0.3%1.40

 

Change in Gold Holdings

 

The October 12, 2012 IMF data is as follows:

SNB Reserves End September

 

Thanks to the ECB Outright Monetary Transactions (OMT) and the Fed’s Q3, Gold holdings appreciated by 10% between Q2 and Q3. The price increased from 1597 US$ in Q2 to 1768 US$ (by 10.7%) in Q3 with a 0.8% weaker USD/CHF (from 0.9488 to 0.9400). This gave the strong result in gold holdings of 4.9 billion francs. However, gold has already lost much of its value with the latest price at 1711 US$.

Seigniorage Effect

As opposed to 2011 when the central bank earned quite a lot on interest payments, this is not the case any more now.  Yields are at all-time lows and close to zero for AAA government bonds, that constitute about 75% of the SNB security portfolio. Moreover, the central bank increased zero-yielding cash holdings at other central banks considerably over the first two quarters 2012. The “seigniorage effect” of central banks has died.
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George Dorgan
George Dorgan (penname) predicted the end of the EUR/CHF peg at the CFA Society and at many occasions on SeekingAlpha.com and on this blog. Several Swiss and international financial advisors support the site. These firms aim to deliver independent advice from the often misleading mainstream of banks and asset managers. George is FinTech entrepreneur, financial author and alternative economist. He speak seven languages fluently.
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