Monetary policy glossary

A B C D E F G H I K L M N O P Q R S T V
All glossary entries    ECB    Statistics    Monetary policy    Macroprudential policy & financial stability    Payments & markets    Banking supervision

B

base money (monetary base)
Currency (banknotes and coins) in circulation plus the minimum reserves credit institutions are required to hold with the Eurosystem and any excess reserves they may voluntarily hold in the Eurosystem's deposit facility, all of which are liabilities on the Eurosystem's balance sheet. Base money is sometimes also referred to as the "monetary base".
BEPGs
See
Broad Economic Policy Guidelines (BEPGs)
bilateral procedure
A procedure whereby the central bank deals directly with only one counterparty or a few counterparties on a one-to-one basis, without making use of tender procedures. Bilateral procedures include operations executed through stock exchanges or market agents.
bond market
The market for interest-bearing securities (with either a fixed or a floating rate and with a maturity of at least one year) that companies and governments issue to raise capital for investment. Fixed-rate bonds account for the largest share of this market.
book-entry system
A system which enables transfers of securities and other financial assets which do not involve the physical movement of paper documents or certificates (e.g. the electronic transfer of securities). See also
dematerialisation
immobilisation
Broad Economic Policy Guidelines (BEPGs)
Guidelines adopted by the EU Council in line with Article 121(2) TFEU to provide the framework for defining the economic policies of the Member States and of the Union. See also
Employment Guidelines
Integrated Guidelines