142 views

MAS records $7.4b loss in FY21/22

Lower investment gain was among the factors that led to the loss.

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) recorded a loss of $7.4b in FY21/22, the central bank's  Managing Director, Ravi Menon, disclosed.

In his speech at the MAS Annual Report media conference, Menon said the loss was due to lower investment gains.

Investment gains on the official foreign reserves were at $4.0b.

Other factors which led to the loss were a large negative foreign exchange translation effect of $8.7b, and higher interest expenses on domestic money market operations which also led to an increased total expenditure of $2.8b. 

Menon said concerns over monetary policy tightening by central banks and geopolitical tensions weighed heavily on global financial markets last year, which is why MAS is tightening its policy in a "series of well-calibrated steps."

"Taming inflation is like trying to slow down a speeding car on a gentle slope. It takes a combination of forcefulness and calibration. 

"If you do not depress the brakes early enough or hard enough, you cannot break the speed momentum – likewise, monetary policy needs to act early and decisively. But if you jam the brakes too hard, the car may skid or even topple over – the economy may go into a recession," Menon added.

READ MORE: MAS 'not done yet' with policy tightening: analysts

Follow the link for more news on

Join Singapore Business Review community
A NOTE FROM SINGAPORE BUSINESS REVIEW

The people you want to reach are already in this room.

Every quarter, SBR lands on the desks of the founders, CFOs, and directors running Asia's most consequential companies. Every day, they open our newsletter and read our website. It's a room that took twenty years to build — and it's the one most of our partners are trying to get into.

The good news is that the door is open. We work with companies on thought leadership articles, sponsored content, industry summits across Southeast Asia, regional awards programmes, podcasts, and media placements in print and digital. The shape of the right partnership depends on what you're trying to do, which is why we'd rather start with a conversation than send a rate card.


If you have something this room should know about, tell us. We'll tell you honestly whether we can help, and how.

No rate cards until we understand the brief. It's a better use of everyone's time.