Consolidated financial statement of the Eurosystem as at 30 November 2007

In the week ending 30 November 2007, the decrease of EUR 34 million in gold and gold receivables (asset item 1) reflected the 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 142.3 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) increased by EUR 0.6 billion to EUR 95.9 billion. Banknotes in circulation (liability item 1) rose by EUR 6.4 billion to EUR 645.7 billion. Liabilities to general government (liability item 5.1) decreased by EUR 6.3 billion to EUR 67.5 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) increased by EUR 8.8 billion to EUR 462.8 billion. On Wednesday, 28 November 2007, a main refinancing operation of EUR 169 billion matured and a new one of EUR 178 billion was settled. On Thursday, 29 November 2007, a longer-term refinancing operation of EUR 50 billion matured and a new one of EUR 50 billion was settled.

Recourse to the marginal lending facility (asset item 5.5) was EUR 0.1 billion (compared with EUR 0.3 billion in the preceding week), while recourse to the deposit facility (liability item 2.2) was EUR 0.3 billion (compared with EUR 0.2 billion in the preceding week).

As a result of all transactions, the current account position of credit institutions with the Eurosystem (liability item 2.1) increased by EUR 8.8 billion to EUR 203.5 billion.