Remittances climbed by more than US$5.3 billion in the fourth quarter of 2005 alone, the bank said. They totaled US$16.6 billion in 2004.

Remittances have been increasing steadily for years, surpassing the amount the country receives from tourism, which totaled US$10.7 billion in 2005.

The country´s top source of foreign income is oil, whose exports totaled US$31.7 billion in 2005. Approximately 11 million Mexican natives reside abroad, with 98 percent of that number residing in the United States.

.MARKETS

BOLSA ENDS 0.31 PERCENT HIGHER, SPURRED BY PENOLES STOCKS

Bolsa stocks finished higher on Tuesday, with a strong gain in silver miner Penoles and home builder Geo.

The IPC stock index ended up 0.31 percent at 18,907 points.

Penoles, the world´s top silver miner, jumped 6.92 percent to 70.00 pesos. Silver production in November rose 11.7 percent over the year-ago period, the government said shortly before market close on Tuesday.

Output of gold, which Penoles also produces, during the month surged 75.2 percent as miners tapped into and processed richer ore deposits.