Consolidated financial statement of the Eurosystem as at 3 July 2009

As announced on 7 May 2009, the Governing Council of the European Central Bank (ECB) has decided to purchase euro-denominated covered bonds issued in the euro area. For presentational purposes, asset item 7, entitled “ Securities of euro area residents denominated in euro”, has been divided into two positions: asset item 7.1, entitled “ Securities held for monetary policy purposes”, which has been introduced in order to reflect the euro-denominated covered bond portfolio, which will commence in July 2009; and asset item 7.2, entitled “ Other securities”, which includes marketable securities that are not related to the monetary policy operations of the Eurosystem (which previously accounted for the whole of asset item 7). This week’s consolidated financial statement has been drawn up in accordance with this new balance sheet format.

In the week ending 3 July 2009, the decrease of EUR 8.5 billion in gold and gold receivables (asset item 1) mainly reflected quarterly revaluation adjustments, as well as 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 10.5 billion to EUR 206.2 billion. The change was due to the effect of the quarterly revaluation adjustments, 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 ECB 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 (now reported under asset item 7.2) increased by EUR 0.6 billion to EUR 302.2 billion, mainly on account of transactions. Banknotes in circulation (liability item 1) increased by EUR 6.6 billion to EUR 768.7 billion. Liabilities to general government (liability item 5.1) decreased by EUR 44.3 billion to EUR 109.1 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 141.9 billion to EUR 518.7 billion. On Wednesday, 1 July 2009, a main refinancing operation of EUR 167.9 billion matured and a new one of EUR 105.9 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 previous week), while recourse to the deposit facility (liability item 2.2) was EUR 316 billion (compared with EUR 236.2 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) decreased by EUR 99.9 billion to EUR 168.3 billion.

In line with the Eurosystem’s harmonised accounting rules, gold, foreign exchange, securities holdings and financial instruments of the Eurosystem are revalued at market rates and prices as at the end of each quarter. The net impact of the revaluation on each balance sheet item as at 3 July 2009 is shown in the additional column “ Difference compared with last week due to quarter-end adjustments”.

The gold price and the principal exchange rates used for the revaluation of balances were as follows:

Gold: EUR 665.770 per fine oz.

USD: 1.4134 per EUR

JPY: 135.51 per EUR

Special drawing rights: EUR 1.0989 per SDR