JAPAN'S foreign exchange reserves reached a record high of US$1,052.60 billion in September, up by US$10.26 billion from a month earlier, said the finance ministry today.

A rise in the value of its holdings of US Treasury bonds and euro-denominated assets as well as an increase in Japan's holdings of special drawing rights (SDRs) at the International Monetary Fund contributed to the expansion in foreign reserves, according to the ministry.

Statistics showed that Japan had US$938.64 billion in foreign securities and US$24.50 billion in gold at the end of September, up by US$9.93 billion and US$990 million from the previous month.

The world's second economy also held US$63.61 billion in foreign currency deposits, down by US$2.38 billion from a month earlier.

Possessing the world's second largest foreign reserves after China, Japan holds securities and deposits denominated in foreign currencies, IMF reserve positions and special drawing rights, and gold.