Consolidated financial statement of the Eurosystem as at 1 May 2009

In the week ending 1 May 2009 the decrease of EUR 12 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) and the purchase of gold by another 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 0.5 billion to EUR 264.9 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) increased by EUR 0.1 billion to EUR 294.1 billion. Banknotes in circulation (liability item 1) increased by EUR 6.5 billion to EUR 759.2 billion. Liabilities to general government (liability item 5.1) increased by EUR 12.8 billion to EUR 156.7 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 57.9 billion to EUR 587.2 billion. On Wednesday, 29 April 2009, a main refinancing operation of EUR 244.1 billion matured and a new one of EUR 233.2 billion was settled. On Thursday, 30 April 2009, a longer-term refinancing operation of EUR 43.2 billion matured and a new one of EUR 30.2 billion was settled.

Recourse to the marginal lending facility (asset item 5.5) was EUR 2.8 billion (compared with EUR 0.1 billion in the previous week), while recourse to the deposit facility (liability item 2.2) was EUR 67.8 billion (compared with EUR 31.1 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) decreased by EUR 75.2 billion to EUR 173.9 billion.