Consolidated financial statement of the Eurosystem as at 2 May 2008

In the week ending 2 May 2008 gold and gold receivables (asset item 1) remained unchanged.

The net position of the Eurosystem in foreign currency (asset items 2 and 3 minus liability items 7, 8 and 9) decreased by EUR 0.1 billion to EUR 153.3 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) rose by EUR 0.7 billion to EUR 110 billion. Banknotes in circulation (liability item 1) increased by EUR 7.4 billion to EUR 671.7 billion. Liabilities to general government (liability item 5.1) decreased by EUR 25.6 billion to EUR 57.6 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) decreased by EUR 2.7 billion to EUR 464.8 billion. On Wednesday, 30 April 2008, a main refinancing operation of EUR 173 billion matured and a new one of EUR 170 billion was settled. On Friday, 2 May 2008, 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 virtually nil (which was approximately the same as in the preceding week), while recourse to the deposit facility (liability item 2.2) remained virtually unchanged at EUR 0.1 billion.

As a result of all transactions, the current account position of credit institutions with the Eurosystem (liability item 2.1) increased by EUR 12.2 billion to EUR 209.1 billion.