Consolidated financial statement of the Eurosystem as at 17 April 2009

In the week ending 17 April 2009 the decrease of EUR 6 million in gold and gold receivables (asset item 1) reflected the sale of gold by one Eurosystem central bank (consistent with the Central Bank Gold Agreement that came into effect on 27 September 2004).

The net position of the Eurosystem in foreign currency (asset items 2 and 3 minus liability items 7, 8 and 9) decreased by EUR 3.2 billion to EUR 277.2 billion on account of customer and portfolio transactions and US dollar liquidity-providing transactions.

The liquidity-providing transactions were conducted by the Eurosystem in connection with the temporary reciprocal currency arrangements (swap lines) that the European Central Bank has with the Swiss National Bank and the Federal Reserve System. The EUR/CHF foreign exchange swap had no effect on the net position of the Eurosystem in foreign currency.

The holdings by the Eurosystem of marketable securities of euro area residents denominated in euro (asset item 7) decreased by EUR 1.1 billion to EUR 292.8 billion. Banknotes in circulation (liability item 1) decreased by EUR 5.5 billion to EUR 756.6 billion. Liabilities to general government (liability item 5.1) decreased by EUR 5.9 billion to EUR 141.3 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 13.3 billion to EUR 659.6 billion. On Wednesday, 15 April 2009, a main refinancing operation of EUR 237.6 billion matured and a new one of EUR 249.4 billion was settled. On Thursday, 16 April 2009, a longer-term refinancing operation of EUR 9.5 billion matured and a new one of EUR 13.2 billion was settled.

Recourse to the marginal lending facility (asset item 5.5) was EUR 0.1 billion (compared with EUR 1.8 billion in the previous week), while recourse to the deposit facility (liability item 2.2) was EUR 21.9 billion (compared with EUR 21.5 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 24.1 billion to EUR 256.3 billion.