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RB TexLa

(17,003 posts)
Sun Apr 22, 2012, 11:56 PM Apr 2012

The answer to the European debt situation probably lies an expansion of this into a currency


Spread the risk. This was sort of it's original intent and now would be a good time to move forward with it. Probably a joint venture of the IMF and UN. The IMF and UN could use the reallocation of the basket to curb dangerous debt at the state level.




Basket of currencies determines the value of the SDR

The value of the SDR was initially defined as equivalent to 0.888671 grams of fine gold—which, at the time, was also equivalent to one U.S. dollar. After the collapse of the Bretton Woods system in 1973, however, the SDR was redefined as a basket of currencies,today consisting of the euro, Japanese yen, pound sterling, and U.S. dollar. The U.S. dollar-equivalent of the SDR is posted dailyon the IMF’s website. It is calculated as the sum of specific amounts of the four basket currencies valued in U.S. dollars, on the basis of exchange rates quoted at noon each day in the London market.

The basket composition is reviewed every five years by the Executive Board, or earlier if the Fund finds changed circumstances warrant an earlier review, to ensure that it reflects the relative importance of currencies in the world’s trading and financial systems. In the most recent review (in November 2010), the weights of the currencies in the SDR basket were revised based on the value of the exports of goods and services and the amount of reserves denominated in the respective currencies that were held by other members of the IMF. These changes became effective on January 1, 2011. The next review will take place by 2015. In October 2011, the IMF Executive Board discussed clarifications and possible reform options of the existing criteria for broadening the SDR currency basket. Most directors held the view that the current criteria for SDR basket selection remained appropriate.

http://www.imf.org/external/np/exr/facts/sdr.htm
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