La Constitución Política de Colombia y la Ley 31 de 1992, artículo 14, asignan al Banco de la República la función de administrar las reservas internacionales. Asimismo, definen que estas deben ser manejadas con criterios de seguridad, liquidez y rentabilidad. El propósito de este documento es explicar la gestión de las reservas internacionales de Colombia, las cuales ascendían a USD 48.392 millones (m) a diciembre de 2018. Primero, se introducen los principales conceptos asociados con las reservas internacionales y el marco en el cual se fundamenta su gestión por parte del Banco. Posteriormente, se detalla la política de administración y los aspectos fundamentales de su operatividad. Por último, se realiza un recuento sobre el estado actual de las reservas. ; The Colombian Constitution and Law 31/1992 (Article 14) assigned Banco de la República a mandate to manage Colombia's foreign reserves. Likewise, they also stipulate that the criteria to manage foreign reserves are safety, liquidity, and return. The purpose of this report is to explain how Colombia's foreign reserves are managed. At December 2018, they amounted to USD 48,392 million (m). The report begins with a description of the main concepts associated with foreign reserves and outlines the framework on which its management by the Bank is based. It then describes, in detail, the policy for managing foreign reserves, as well as the fundamental aspects of its operation. The report ends with an account of the current state of the country's foreign
Al analizar la situación de los establecimientos de crédito (EC) entre agosto de 2016 y febrero de 2017, se observó un menor crecimiento real de la cartera, explicado principalmente por la dinámica de la cartera comercial. En cuanto a los indicadores de calidad por riesgo (ICR) y calidad por mora (ICM), se presentaron incrementos para todas las modalidades de cartera; sin embargo, estos niveles en general se mantuvieron por debajo de los observados en 2009. Con respecto a la dinámica del pasivo, este continuó con la tendencia decreciente presentada desde el segundo semestre de 2016. Por composición, los certificados de depósito a término (CDT) de mayores plazos y las cuentas de ahorro aumentaron su participación. En cuanto a las instituciones financieras no bancarias (IFNB), en febrero de 2017 se registró una desaceleración de los activos tanto en posición propia como administrada, en comparación con lo observado en agosto de 2016. Con respecto a la composición del portafolio propio y de terceros, las inversiones se concentraron principalmente en títulos de deuda pública y privada de emisores nacionales. Además, en el mismo período se observaron incrementos en el indicador de rentabilidad sobre activos (ROA) para todos los tipos de entidad. El análisis de los principales deudores del sistema financiero muestra que el sector corporativo presentó una disminución en el endeudamiento como porcentaje del PIB durante 2016. En el caso del sector privado, la reducción obedeció a que el endeudamiento con instituciones financieras nacionales creció a un ritmo menor que el producto y a que el fondeo con proveedores del exterior se redujo a causa de la apreciación de la tasa de cambio. En el caso del sector público, la disminución se dio por un menor financiamiento en moneda extranjera con entidades financieras nacionales y por una reducción, debido a la apreciación del peso, del saldo de bonos emitidos en el exterior y del endeudamiento con entidades bilaterales. El endeudamiento de los hogares se aceleró entre agosto de 2016 y febrero de 2017, principalmente en la modalidad de consumo. La dinámica anterior estuvo acompañada de una relativa estabilidad en el indicador de carga financiera calculado a nivel agregado. Por su parte, el ICM y el ICR presentaron incrementos durante este periodo, destacándose el deterioro de los créditos de libre inversión. En relación con el riesgo de mercado, la principal exposición por parte de las entidades financieras estuvo concentrada en el mercado de renta fija. Estos títulos mostraron valorizaciones durante el último semestre de 2016 y los primeros meses de 2017, impulsadas por un mayor apetito por riesgo a nivel mundial y por cambios en la postura de política monetaria local. Durante la segunda mitad de 2016 el mercado de renta variable presentó un comportamiento estable debido a la baja volatilidad del precio del petróleo. El indicador de riesgo de liquidez (IRL) muestra que los EC contaron con niveles adecuados de recursos líquidos para cumplir con sus obligaciones de corto plazo. Por su parte, la dinámica de los pasivos y el patrimonio de los EC continuó con la tendencia decreciente presentada desde mediados de 2015, destacándose la contribución negativa de los depósitos a la vista, las operaciones pasivas del mercado monetario, y los créditos de bancos y obligaciones financieras. Por otro lado, se resalta que los depósitos a término fueron el componente del pasivo que más aportó positivamente al crecimiento real anual del fondeo. Por último, el ejercicio de sensibilidad propuesto evaluó la resiliencia de los EC ante un escenario negativo (y poco probable), con un choque sobre la inversión, una caída en la confianza global sobre la economía colombiana y la materialización de un conjunto de riesgos para el sistema (riesgo de crédito, riesgo de mercado y riesgo de fondeo). Los resultados indican que el impacto del escenario hipotético sobre la solvencia total de los EC tendría una magnitud moderada. Al mismo tiempo, se observarían ciertos efectos negativos sobre el volumen de la cartera, su calidad y la rentabilidad del negocio de intermediación. Lo anterior muestra la importancia de continuar con el monitoreo cuidadoso de la situación financiera de deudores y entidades. ; The analysis of credit institutions between August 2016 and February 2017 showed a lower real growth of the loan portfolio, mainly explained by commercial loan-portfolio dynamics. The quality and non-performing loan indexes featured increases for all loan portfolio modalities; however, these levels remained below those observed in 2009, in general. As for liabilities, they continued with the declining trend shown since the second half of 2016. By composition, term deposit certificates at longer maturities and savings accounts increased their share. Regarding non-banking financial institutions, a slowdown was registered in assets in February 2016, both in proprietary and third-party positions, compared to that observed in August 2016. Regarding proprietary and third-party loan portfolio compositions, investments mainly concentrated in domestic issuers' government and private debt securities. In addition, increases in the return on assets index (ROA) for all types of entities were observed in the same period. Analysis of the main debtors of the financial system shows that the corporate sector featured a decrease in debt as GDP percentage during 2016. As for the private sector, this reduction took place since debt with domestic financial institutions grew at a lower rate than the output, and that funding with overseas suppliers was reduced due to exchange-rate appreciation. Regarding the public sector, the decrease was given by lower financing in foreign currency with domestic financial institutions, and by a reduction, due to appreciation of the Colombian peso, of bonds issued abroad, and debt with bilateral entities. Household debt increased between August 2016 and February 2017, mainly in the consumer modality. This dynamics was accompanied by a relative stability in the financial burden indicator calculated at the aggregate level. On the other hand, non-performing loans and quality indexes showed increases during this period, with a highlighted deterioration of personal loans. As for market risk, the main exposure by financial institutions was concentrated in the fixed-income market. These securities exhibited valuations during the latter half of 2016 and the first months of 2017, driven by a greater global appetite for risk and by monetary policy stance changes. Variable yield market had a stable behavior due to oil price low volatility during the second half of 2016. The liquidity risk indicator shows that credit institutions had adequate levels of liquid resources to meet their short-term obligations. On the other hand, credit institutions' liabilities and equity dynamics continued with the decreasing trend featured since mid-2015, highlighting the negative contributions of demand deposits, money market lending operations, and bank credits and financial obligations. Also, it is noteworthy that term deposits were the item that most positively contributed to funding real annual growth. Finally, the proposed sensitivity tests assessed the resilience of credit institutions to a negative (and unlikely) scenario, with an investment shock, a global confidence decline in the Colombian economy, and the materialization of a set of risks for the system (credit risk, market risk, and funding risk). Results indicate that the impact of the hypothetical scenario on the total solvency of credit institutions would have a moderate magnitude. At the same time, certain negative effects on the volume of the loan portfolio, its quality, and the profitability of the intermediation business would be observed. This shows the importance of continuing with the careful monitoring of the financial situation of debtors and entities.
Banco de la República (the Central Bank of Colombia) is required by the Constitution to maintain the purchasing power of Colombia's currency in coordination with general economic policy1. In order to fulfill this mandate, the Central Bank of Colombia's Board of Directors (hereafter BDBR) has adopted a flexible inflation targeting scheme, by which monetary policy actions (MP) seek to lead inflation to a specific target and achieve maximum levels of sustainable output and employment. The flexibility of this scheme allows the BDBR to maintain an adequate balance between reaching its inflation target and smoothing output and employment fluctuations around their sustainable growth paths. The BDBR has set a 3.0% inflation target based on annual change in the consumer price index (CPI). In the short term, inflation may be affected by factors outside of monetary policy control, such as changes in food prices due to climate-related phenomena. To factor in this reality, the BDBR has also set a ±1 percentage point range outside its inflation target (i.e., 3.0 ± 1 pp). This range does not represent a monetary policy target, but rather reflects the fact that inflation can fluctuate around the target and will not always be equal to 3.0%. The main instrument of the BDBR to control inflation is the policy interest rate (overnight repo rate, or benchmark interest rate). Given that monetary policy actions take time to have their full effect on the economy and inflation2, the BDBR assesses the inflation forecast and inflation expectations vis-à-vis the inflation target, as well as the current situation and outlook of the economy, in order to determine their value. The BDBR meets once a month, producing monetary policy decisions in eight of its meetings (January, March, April, June, July, September, October, and December). In principle, no such decisions are made in the BDBR's four remaining meetings (February, May, August, and November)3. At the end of the meetings in which monetary policy decisions are produced, a press release is published and a press conference held by the Governor of the Central Bank and the Minister of Finance. The minutes of the meeting describing the positions that led the BDBR to its decision are published on the following business day. Additionally, the Monetary Policy Report (MPR)4, produced by the Central Bank's technical staff, is published in January, April, July, and October, together with the minutes. On the Wednesday of the week following the Board meeting, the Governor clarifies concerns about the minutes, and the Bank's Deputy Technical Governor presents the MPR. This dissemination scheme5 seeks to deliver relevant and up-to-date information to contribute to better decision-making by the agents of the economy. 1 Political Constitution of Colombia (1991), Article 373 and Decision C-481/99 of the Constitutional Court. 2 For further details, see M. Jalil and L. Mahadeva (2010). "Transmission Mechanisms of Monetary Policy in Colombia", Universidad Externado de Colombia, Faculty of Finance, Government, and International Relations, ed. 1, vol. 1, no. 69, October. 3 A Board Member may request an extraordinary meeting at any time to make MP decisions. 4 Formerly known as the Inflation Report. 5 The current communication scheme was approved by the BDBR in its August 2019 meeting.
Banco de la República (the Central Bank of Colombia) is required by the Constitution to maintain the purchasing power of Colombia's currency in coordination with general economic policy1. In order to fulfill this mandate, the Central Bank of Colombia's Board of Directors (hereafter BDBR) has adopted a flexible inflation targeting scheme, by which monetary policy actions (MP) seek to lead inflation to a specific target and achieve maximum levels of sustainable output and employment. The flexibility of this scheme allows the BDBR to maintain an adequate balance between reaching its inflation target and smoothing output and employment fluctuations around their sustainable growth paths. The BDBR has set a 3.0% inflation target based on annual change in the consumer price index (CPI). In the short term, inflation may be affected by factors outside of monetary policy control, such as changes in food prices due to climate-related phenomena. To factor in this reality, the BDBR has also set a ±1 percentage point range outside its inflation target (i.e., 3.0 ± 1 pp). This range does not represent a monetary policy target, but rather reflects the fact that inflation can fluctuate around the target and will not always be equal to 3.0%. The main instrument of the BDBR to control inflation is the policy interest rate (overnight repo rate, or benchmark interest rate). Given that monetary policy actions take time to have their full effect on the economy and inflation2, the BDBR assesses the inflation forecast and inflation expectations vis-à-vis the inflation target, as well as the current situation and outlook of the economy, in order to determine their value. The BDBR meets once a month, producing monetary policy decisions in eight of its meetings (January, March, April, June, July, September, October, and December). In principle, no such decisions are made in the BDBR's four remaining meetings (February, May, August, and November)3. At the end of the meetings in which monetary policy decisions are produced, a press release is published and a press conference held by the Governor of the Central Bank and the Minister of Finance. The minutes of the meeting describing the positions that led the BDBR to its decision are published on the following business day. Additionally, the Monetary Policy Report (MPR)4, produced by the Central Bank's technical staff, is published in January, April, July, and October, together with the minutes. On the Wednesday of the week following the Board meeting, the Governor clarifies concerns about the minutes, and the Bank's Deputy Technical Governor presents the MPR. This dissemination scheme5 seeks to deliver relevant and up-to-date information to contribute to better decision-making by the agents of the economy. 1 Political Constitution of Colombia (1991), Article 373 and Decision C-481/99 of the Constitutional Court. 2 For further details, see M. Jalil and L. Mahadeva (2010). "Transmission Mechanisms of Monetary Policy in Colombia", Universidad Externado de Colombia, Faculty of Finance, Government, and International Relations, ed. 1, vol. 1, no. 69, October. 3 A Board Member may request an extraordinary meeting at any time to make MP decisions. 4 Formerly known as the Inflation Report. 5 The current communication scheme was approved by the BDBR in its August 2019 meeting.
