Consolidated financial statement of the Eurosystem as at 4 May 2007

Items not related to monetary policy operations

In the week ending 4 May 2007, the decrease of EUR 186 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) increased by EUR 0.7 billion to EUR 93.1 billion. Banknotes in circulation (liability item 1) rose by EUR 4.3 billion to EUR 624 billion. Liabilities to general government (liability item 5.1) decreased by EUR 14 billion to EUR 46.8 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) decreased by EUR 10.3 billion to EUR 429.7 billion. On Wednesday, 2 May 2007, a main refinancing operation of EUR 288.5 billion matured and a new one of EUR 279.5 billion was settled.

Recourse to the marginal lending facility (asset item 5.5) was EUR 0.2 billion (compared with EUR 1.5 billion in the previous week), while recourse to the deposit facility (liability item 2.2) was EUR 0.1 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) decreased by EUR 1.6 billion to EUR 182 billion.