Azerbaijan's central bank bought $1.5bn in August as reserves reached a record $15.3bn

Azerbaijan's central bank bought $1.5bn in foreign currency during August, it said Monday, as official reserves reached a record $15.3bn.

That is a record.

Reserves have risen $3.8bn, or 33 percent, since the start of the year, which puts the opening level at about $11.5bn and means August supplied nearly 40 percent of that increase.

The bank said a current-account surplus and continued financial-sector de-dollarization pushed foreign currency supply above demand. That is the bank's account of the market. Its separate monetary indicator puts reserves at $15.3013bn on 31 August, matching the rounded figure in the release.

The intervention matters because it identifies an actual buyer. The reserve increase is not presented as a valuation change alone.