However, foreign currency assets fell by $63 million to $26.58 billion in the week to October 30. This is mainly on account of outflows from foreign institutional investors (FIIs) who withdrew substantial amounts of their investments after the Unit Trust of India declared that its reserves have turned negative. This had also led to a sudden plunge in the stock markets.Gold reserves during the week remained unchanged and were pegged at $2.98 billion, according to the Reserve Bank of India's weekly statistical supplement.

The central government's access to ways and means advances from increased marginally by Rs 379 crore to Rs 2,426 crore during the week ended October 23, the supplementsaid.

Commercial banks' investments in government securities were down by Rs 4,726 crore to Rs 211,470 crore during the fortnight ended October 23. This was mainly on account of the uncertainty about interest rates before the credit policy was to be unveiled on October 30.

Bank credit to the commercial sector registered a rise of Rs 8,849 crore which represented an increase of 2.8 per cent on October 23 over the March-end level as against a growth of 1.5 per cent (Rs 4,060 crore) in the corresponding period last year.

Bank's accommodation to the commercial sector in the form of investments in shares, debentures, bonds, commercial paper and other instruments was higher by Rs 8,579 crore to Rs 41,663 crore as on September 25 over the March-end levels.