Russian central bank reserves climb to record 134.15 bln dollars

MOSCOW - Russian central bank reserves in gold or hard currency soared to a record 134.15 billion dollars (101 billion euros) in January-February 2005, ITAR-TASS news agency quoted the bank as saying Saturday.
Reserves increased by 9.61 billion dollars, or 7.7 percent, during the first two months of the year, the bank said.
Reserves at the end of 2004 stood at 124.5 billion dollars, up 47.4 billion dollars since the end of 2003.
Reserves rose sharply in the final months of 2004 in response to higher revenues from oil exports, efforts by the bank to contain the appreciation of the ruble and a pick-up in incoming capital flows.

03/05/2005 17:40 GMT