The methodologies are not subject to frequent change. There was a minor change to the method of valuation of gold in mid-1990, whilst there was a change in the treatment of foreign currency securities sold under repurchase agreements in July 1996. In April 2000, official reserve assets were redefined to exclude foreign currency facilities with other central banks. These notes are amended in line with significant changes in the presentation or calculation of the data. The public are usually informed of the change at the time the change is introduced.
Explanatory notes accompany the release of the data.
The timeliness of the data is 2 business days after the Wednesday balance date. These data are published approximately two weeks after the end of the reference month. Monthly data contained in Table H4 are also available on the RBA's web site. The monthly information, published at the end of the following month, includes data on the currency composition and maturity profile of reserves. From 1 July 1996, foreign currency securities sold under repurchase agreements have been retained for accounting purposes as foreign exchange in the Bank's balance sheet, in accordance with standard accounting treatment.