Treasuries and agency bonds the New York Fed holds for foreign central banks. 2 series: Marketable Treasuries in custody, Agency debt and mortgage-backed securities. Latest, 21 Oct 2026: Marketable Treasuries in custody 2572.8; Agency debt and mortgage-backed securities 197.1.

The weekly read on official dollar reserves. It counts only what foreign central banks keep at the New York Fed, not what they hold with private custodians, so it misses part of the picture, but it moves within days when they sell Treasuries to defend a currency. The agency line follows Brad Setser: central banks' holdings of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Ginnie Mae bonds here peaked near $900 billion in July 2008, then they fled to Treasuries and never came back. H.4.1 splits custody by type only from July 2007.

See also: Laurence Wilse-Samson, "Global Finance: A Money View", chapter 3, The International Dimension; Brad Setser, "The central bank flight to safety" (CFR, 2008)

Classroom exerciseFind the largest four-week fall in custody holdings in March 2020. Why would foreign central banks sell Treasuries during a dash for cash, and how did the FIMA repo facility, marked on the chart, offer them an alternative to selling? Teach page