Consolidated financial statement of the Eurosystem as at 27 July 2007

Items not related to monetary policy operations

In the week ending 27 July 2007, the decrease of EUR 195 million in gold and gold receivables (asset item 1) reflected the sales of gold by three Eurosystem central banks (consistent with the Central Bank Gold Agreement of 27 September 2004).

The net position of the Eurosystem in foreign currency (asset items 2 and 3 minus liability items 7, 8 and 9) decreased by EUR 0.1 billion to EUR 144.4 billion on account of customer and portfolio transactions.

The holdings by the Eurosystem of marketable securities of euro area residents denominated in euro (asset item 7) increased by EUR 0.9 billion to EUR 94.2 billion. Banknotes in circulation (liability item 1) rose by EUR 0.7 billion to EUR 639 billion. Liabilities to general government (liability item 5.1) increased by EUR 7.4 billion to EUR 63.6 billion.

Items related to monetary policy operations

The Eurosystem’s net lending to credit institutions (asset item 5 minus liability items 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5 and 4) increased by EUR 12.3 billion to EUR 464.1 billion. On Wednesday, 25 July 2007, a main refinancing operation of EUR 301.5 billion matured and a new one of EUR 315.5 billion was settled. On Thursday, 26 July 2007, a longer-term refinancing operation of EUR 50 billion matured and a new one of EUR 50 billion was settled.

Recourse to the marginal lending facility (asset item 5.5) was EUR 0.2 billion (compared with EUR 0.3 billion in the preceding week), while recourse to the deposit facility (liability item 2.2) was EUR 1.6 billion (compared with EUR 0.1 billion in the preceding week).

Current accounts of euro area credit institutions

As a result of all transactions, the current account position of credit institutions with the Eurosystem (liability item 2.1) increased by EUR 5.1 billion to EUR 195.2 billion.