Economists are praising the Reserve Bank's decision to build up its foreign currency assets.  

It's bought and borrowed to drive its total foreign currency holdings up by a third, to a total of almost $18 billion.  

Westpac Chief Economist, Kelly Eckhold, says it will give a signal the central bank is willing to step in if there's a shock to the economy.  

He told Tim Dower that the move should reassure people.  

Eckhold says it would be worrying if the bank didn't have the capacity. 

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