THE Central Bank accounts for just over one-fifth of the foreign exchange (forex) entering the financial system, said the bank’s governor, Larry Howai, who addressed a “misperception” about the bank’s role in the forex market.

Speaking at the TT Stock Exchange’s Capital Markets and Investor Conference at the Hyatt Regency, Port of Spain, on October 24, Howai said while the central bank intervenes to stabilise supply, the majority of foreign exchange distributed through commercial banks originates from private sources.

“I want to correct a misperception in some parts of the public domain that the central bank is the main supplier of foreign exchange to commercial banks and other authorised dealers,” he said.