Consolidated financial statement of the Eurosystem as at 6 April 2007

Items not related to monetary policy operations

In the week ending 6 April 2007, the decrease of EUR 189 million in gold and gold receivables (asset item 1) reflected sales of gold by two 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) remained virtually unchanged at EUR 144.7 billion.

The holdings by the Eurosystem of marketable securities of euro area residents denominated in euro (asset item 7) increased by EUR 1.4 billion to EUR 90.3 billion. Banknotes in circulation (liability item 1) rose by EUR 12.4 billion to EUR 626 billion. Liabilities to general government (liability item 5.1) decreased by EUR 5.9 billion to EUR 51.3 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) rose by EUR 10.4 billion to EUR 442.8 billion. On Wednesday, 4 April 2007, a main refinancing operation of EUR 283.5 billion matured and a new one of EUR 291.5 billion was settled.

Recourse to the marginal lending facility (asset item 5.5) was EUR 2 billion (compared with EUR 0.1 billion in the previous week), while recourse to the deposit facility (liability item 2.2) was EUR 0.6 billion (compared with EUR 1.1 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 5.3 billion to EUR 185.1 billion.