KIEV, Jan. 11 – Forex reserves of the National Bank of Ukraine in December 2009 dropped by 2.9%, or $786 million, to $26.505 billion, according to a Wednesday posting on the NBU's website.

The report says that in 2009 the NBU's forex reserves shrank by 16%, or $5.038 billion.

Reserves in foreign currencies came to $25.493 billion at the end of December ($30.792 billion at the start of the year) and gold holdings totaled $948.18 million ($742.7 million). Special Drawing Rights came to $63.34 million against $271.4 million at the end of November and $2.089 billion at the end of October 2008.