TOKYO, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- The monetary base in Japan rose 5.2 percent in December from a year earlier, a Bank of Japan (BOJ) report revealed on Tuesday.

    The monetary base currently stands at 97.21 trillion yen (1,052billion U.S. dollars), a 3.8 percent rise from November where it stood at 92.20 trillion yen.

    Banknotes in circulation were down at an annual 0.3 percent, according to Japan's central bank, while coins in circulation fell 0.7 percent on year.

    The current account balance was up 53.6 percent, including a 47.4 percent annual increase in reserve balances. Currents account deposits at the central bank increased 43.4 percent in November.

    The BOJ's seasonally adjusted figures revealed on Tuesday the monetary base climbed 18.5 percent in December to 94.32 trillion yen.

    For all of 2009, the monetary base was up 5.8 percent, according to the BOJ report.

    Japan's monetary base refers to the amount of currency that is either circulated in the hands of Japanese people or in domestic commercial bank deposits held in the central bank's reserves. This measure of the money supply typically only includes the most liquid currencies.

    The Japanese administration maintains a measure of control over the monetary base, by buying and selling government bonds in the open market.

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