As of October 1 this year, Russia’s international reserves stood at 633.737 billion dollars. The figure comes from data published by the Central Bank and reported by TASS. The position marks a 3.26 percent rise, equal to 20.022 billion dollars, from the start of September. Looking back to October 1 of the previous year, the reserve stock was 569.021 billion. The month over month gain reflects ongoing shifts in Russia’s external assets, a mix that includes foreign currency holdings, gold, and other reserves used to smooth exchange rate fluctuations and support confidence in the ruble amid sanctions and global volatility.
Gold forms an increasing share of the assets. The share of gold in Russia’s reserves rose from 30.8 percent in September to 31.5 percent on October 1, a level not seen in a quarter of a century. Analysts describe this as the highest gold weight in decades, reflecting the central bank’s strategy to diversify away from debt heavy instruments and hedge against potential currency swings. The trend also signals a long term push to build physical gold holdings to accompany large scale foreign currency reserves.
On October 7, it was clear that the People’s Bank of China in September did not replenish the country’s gold reserves for the fifth consecutive year. The decision is tied to the sharp run up in precious metal prices, which reduces the marginal value of purchases and complicates absorption of new stock. Despite the value of Chinese gold reserves increasing from 182.98 billion dollars to 191.47 billion dollars in August, the physical stock remained at 72.8 million ounces. This split between value and volume shows how price moves can influence central bank decisions and the approach to gold reserves.
Gold prices rose by about 28 percent this year, marking the fastest annual gain in 14 years. The surge reflects strong demand for bullion amid geopolitical tensions, inflation concerns, and a search for safe haven assets. For markets in Canada and the United States, the trend underscores gold’s role as a hedge against currency volatility and as a store of value within diversified portfolios that span multiple currencies.
These motions position Russia among the top holders of gold reserves on the world stage. The global ranking of countries by bullion stocks is led by major economies, with the United States, Germany, Italy, France, and others occupying large shares. In this context, Russia remains prominent and continues to diversify assets, strengthening financial resilience through precious metals.
Across North American markets, analysts watch reserve shifts for clues about currency stability, debt management, and policy direction. The combination of rising gold share and higher reserve values can shape exchange-rate expectations, import costs, and sovereign financing conditions. For Canada and the United States, the implications include more predictable long term planning, slower policy swings, and clearer signals to investors about the strength of national balance sheets.
Going forward, observers will monitor reserve trends, gold price fluctuations, and central-bank signals. The October update, together with the ongoing move toward greater gold weighting, suggests bullion will remain a core element of reserve diversification. In the months ahead, market participants will weigh commodity price trajectories, dollar dynamics, and the policy stance of major central banks when assessing the outlook for currencies, trade, and investment strategies across North America.