Consolidated financial statement of the Eurosystem as at 8 April 2011

Items not related to monetary policy operations

In the week ending 8 April 2011 the increase of EUR 1 million in gold and gold receivables (asset item 1) reflected the trading of gold coin by one Eurosystem central bank.

The net position of the Eurosystem in foreign currency (asset items 2 and 3 minus liability items 7, 8 and 9) decreased by EUR 1.4 billion to EUR 176 billion on account of customer and portfolio transactions.

The holdings by the Eurosystem of marketable securities other than those held for monetary policy purposes (asset item 7.2) increased by EUR 0.7 billion to EUR 334.1 billion. Banknotes in circulation (liability item 1) increased by EUR 2.5 billion to EUR 828.5 billion. Liabilities to general government (liability item 5.1) decreased by EUR 4.3 billion to EUR 60.6 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) decreased by EUR 21.4 billion to EUR 300.1 billion. On Wednesday, 6 April 2011, a main refinancing operation of EUR 100.4 billion matured and a new one of EUR 84.5 billion was settled. On the same date, fixed-term deposits in an amount of EUR 76.5 billion matured and new deposits were collected in an amount of EUR 77 billion, with a maturity of one week.

Recourse to the marginal lending facility (asset item 5.5) was EUR 0.2 billion (compared with EUR 0.7 billion in the previous week), while recourse to the deposit facility (liability item 2.2) was EUR 30.5 billion (compared with EUR 26.1 billion in the preceding week).

The holdings by the Eurosystem of securities held for monetary policy purposes (asset item 7.1) decreased by EUR 0.1 billion to EUR 137.5 billion. This decrease was due to securities purchased under the Securities Markets Programme reaching maturity. Therefore, in the week ending 8 April 2011 the value of accumulated purchases under the Securities Markets Programme and that of the portfolio held under the covered bond purchase programme totalled EUR 77 billion and EUR 60.5 billion respectively. Both portfolios are accounted for on a held-to-maturity basis.

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 17.2 billion to EUR 188.6 billion.