Jakarta, Feb. 6 -- Indonesia's foreign-exchange reserves fell by US$1.9 billion in January to US$154.6 billion as the central bank covered government external debt payments and intervened to stabilize the rupiah amid rising global financial market volatility.

The reserves compared with US$156.5 billion at the end of December, Bank Indonesia said, adding that the January level remains ample despite the monthly decline.

The drop was driven by government foreign debt repayments and the central bank's currency stabilization measures responding to heightened global uncertainty, Bank Indonesia Communications Director Ramdan Denny Prakoso said in a statement Friday.

He said the reserve position at the end of January was sufficient to finance ...