Monday, October 22, 2012

There's A Currency Manipulator That's Bigger Than China — And It's A Country That Mitt Romney Won't Dare Criticize

"The buzz about currency wars and currency manipulation is back.

In the last presidential debate, Mitt Romney called China "a currency manipulator for years and years," and said that he would label the country a currency manipulator on his first day in office.
Tonight's debate is expected to focus even more on the China talking point.
However, there is one country you won't hear either candidate criticize tonight, even though it's been intervening to prevent its currency from strengthening against the dollar as well: Israel.
And when you look at Israel's foreign exchange holdings as a percentage of GDP, you see that at 61 percent, Israel's ratio is significantly higher than that of China, which stands around 45 percent.

The chart below shows the Bank of Israel's foreign currency reserves, which have ballooned since early 2008 when the central bank began buying up dollars and selling shekels.
By selling shekels against the dollar, the BoI hopes to keep its currency from strengthening, making exports more competitive vis-a-vis dollar-based exporters like those in the United States..."
Bank of Israel foreign exchange currency reserves
Bloomberg, Business Insider


at http://www.businessinsider.com/bank-of-israel-foreign-currency-reserves-2012-10#ixzz2A3ZuBGdf

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