Consolidated financial statement of the Eurosystem as at 24 February 2006

Items not related to monetary policy operations

In the week ending 24 February 2006, the decrease of EUR 75 million in gold and gold receivables (asset item 1) reflected both the selling of gold by two Eurosystem central banks (consistent with the Central Bank Gold Agreement of 27 September 2004) and the purchase of gold coins 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) increased by EUR 0.2 billion to EUR 161.5 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) decreased by EUR 0.3 billion to EUR 94 billion. Banknotes in circulation (liability item 1) increased by EUR 0.9 billion to EUR 550.2 billion. Liabilities to general government (liability item 5.1) rose by EUR 19 billion to EUR 67 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 22.6 billion to EUR 417.8 billion. On Wednesday, 22 February 2006, a main refinancing operation of EUR 295 billion matured and a new one of EUR 308 billion was settled. On Thursday, 23 February 2006, a longer-term refinancing operation of EUR 30 billion matured and a new one of EUR 40 billion was settled.

Recourse to the marginal lending facility (asset item 5.5) was EUR 0.4 billion (compared with EUR 0.2 billion the previous week), while recourse to the deposit facility (liability item 2.2) was EUR 0.6 billion (compared with virtually nil 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 2.6 billion to EUR 159.2 billion.