RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s holdings in US treasuries increased for the eighth consecutive month in March, reaching $135.9 billion, a rise of 3.66 percent compared to the previous month. According to official data released by Washington, the Kingdom was ranked 17th among the largest investors in such financial instruments in March. The report noted that Saudi Arabia’s holdings of US Treasuries were distributed among long-term bonds worth $107.3 billion, representing 79 percent of the total. On the other hand, the Kingdom’s short-term bonds were worth $28.6 billion in March, accounting for 21 percent of the total value. In February, the Kingdom’s holdings in US treasuries stood at $131.1 billion, compared to $133.5 billion in January and $132 billion in and December, The data suggested that Japan was the largest investor in US treasury bonds in March, with holdings totaling $1.18 trillion, representing a rise of 1.16 percent from February. China and the UK followed, with portfolios valued at $767.4 billion and $728.1 billion, respectively. Luxembourg and Canada were ranked in the fourth and fifth spots, with treasury holdings amounting to $399.3 billion and $359.1 billion, respectively. Ireland secured the sixth rank in the list with holdings of $317.8 billion, closely followed by Belgium with portfolios worth $317.1 billion. The Cayman Islands came in the eighth position with treasury reserves worth $302.9 billion, followed by France and Switzerland, with assets amounting to $283.1 billion and $262.9 billion, respectively. Taiwan was ranked eleventh on the list, with treasury holdings worth $259 billion. India came in the twelfth spot with assets amounting to $240.6 billion, followed by Brazil and Singapore, which had holdings worth $227.1 billion and $208 billion, respectively. Earlier this month, a report released by the Saudi Central Bank, also known as SAMA, revealed that international reserve assets declined by 2 percent in April to SR1.66 trillion ($440 billion) compared to the previous month. However, the Kingdom’s foreign reserve assets jumped 3 percent in April compared to the same period of the previous year.