https://www.cnbc.com/2022/09/21/australias-central-bank-has-equity-wiped-out-by-billions-in-bond-losses.html
Bullock noted that while this would bankrupt a normal commercial entity, the RBAs liabilities are guaranteed by the government.
Australias central bank on Wednesday said its equity had been wiped out by losses suffered on pandemic-era bond buying, but its ability to create money meant it was not insolvent and would continue as normal.
Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) Deputy Governor Michele Bullock said the bank had taken a mark-to-market valuation loss on its bond holdings of A$44.9 billion ($30.02 billion) in 2021/22.
The bonds were accumulated under a A$300 billion emergency stimulus program that ran from November 2020 to February 2022.
The losses eclipsed underlying earnings of A$8.2 billion and left the central bank with an accounting loss of A$36.7 billion. It also ate up all the RBAs reserve funds, leaving it with a negative net equity position of A$12.4 billion.
Bullock noted that while this would bankrupt a normal commercial entity, the RBAs liabilities are guaranteed by the government.
Furthermore, since it has the ability to create money, the Bank can continue to meet its obligations as they become due and so it is not insolvent, said Bullock.
The negative equity position will, therefore, not affect the ability of the Reserve Bank to do its job.