Consolidated financial statement of the Eurosystem as at 20 April 2007

Items not related to monetary policy operations

In the week ending 20 April 2007, the decrease of EUR 281 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) increased by EUR 0.1 billion to EUR 145.4 billion.

The holdings by the Eurosystem of marketable securities of euro area residents denominated in euro (asset item 7) decreased by EUR 0.1 billion to EUR 90.5 billion. Banknotes in circulation (liability item 1) fell by EUR 3.6 billion to EUR 615.8 billion. Liabilities to general government (liability item 5.1) increased by EUR 7 billion to EUR 55.6 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 0.9 billion to EUR 431.4 billion. On Wednesday, 18 April 2007, a main refinancing operation of EUR 280 billion matured and a new one of EUR 281.5 billion was settled.

Recourse to both the marginal lending facility (asset item 5.5) and the deposit facility (liability item 2.2) was virtually nil (compared with EUR 0.7 billion and EUR 0.1 billion respectively in the previous 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 0.2 billion to EUR 183.6 billion.