Consolidated financial statement of the Eurosystem as at 21 August 2009

In the week ending 21 August 2009 the decrease of EUR 8 million in gold and gold receivables (asset item 1) reflected the sale of gold by one Eurosystem central bank (consistent with the Central Bank Gold Agreement that came into effect on 27 September 2004) and the purchase of gold by another Eurosystem central bank.

The net position of the Eurosystem in foreign currency (asset items 2 and 3 minus liability items 7, 8 and 9) decreased by EUR 4.6 billion to EUR 194.1 billion on account of customer and portfolio transactions and US dollar liquidity-providing transactions.

The liquidity-providing transactions were conducted by the Eurosystem in connection with the temporary reciprocal currency arrangements (swap lines) that the European Central Bank has with the Swiss National Bank and the Federal Reserve System. The EUR/CHF foreign exchange swap had no effect on the net position of the Eurosystem in foreign currency.

The holdings by the Eurosystem of securities other than those held for monetary policy purposes (asset item 7.2) increased by EUR 0.1 billion to EUR 304.6 billion. Banknotes in circulation (liability item 1) decreased by EUR 4.5 billion to EUR 768.3 billion. Liabilities to general government (liability item 5.1) increased by EUR 1.2 billion to EUR 114.5 billion.

The Eurosystem’s net lending to credit institutions (asset item 5 minus liability items 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5 and 4) decreased by EUR 47 billion to EUR 569.6 billion. On Wednesday, 19 August 2009, a main refinancing operation of EUR 73.6 billion matured and a new one of EUR 76.1 billion was settled.

Recourse to the marginal lending facility (asset item 5.5) was EUR 0.1 billion (compared with EUR 0.2 billion in the previous week), while recourse to the deposit facility (liability item 2.2) was EUR 160.2 billion (compared with EUR 110.8 billion in the preceding week).

The holdings by the Eurosystem of securities held for monetary policy purposes (asset item 7.1) increased by EUR 0.9 billion to EUR 7.9 billion in the week ending 21 August 2009.

As a result of all transactions, the current account position of credit institutions with the Eurosystem (liability item 2.1) decreased by EUR 43.1 billion to EUR 221.1 billion.