Consolidated financial statement of the Eurosystem as at 29 January 2010

Items not related to monetary policy operations

In the week ending 29 January 2010 the increase of EUR 1 million in gold and gold receivables (asset item 1) reflected the purchase of gold 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) increased by EUR 0.4 billion to EUR 158.7 billion on account of customer and portfolio transactions and a US dollar liquidity-providing transaction.

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 swaps had no effect on the net position of the Eurosystem in foreign currency. As announced on 18 January and 27 January 2010 respectively, Swiss franc and US dollar liquidity-providing operations will no longer be conducted after 31 January 2010.

The holdings by the Eurosystem of securities other than those held for monetary policy purposes (asset item 7.2) increased by EUR 0.9 billion to EUR 297.7 billion. Banknotes in circulation (liability item 1) increased by EUR 0.2 billion to EUR 783.5 billion. Liabilities to general government (liability item 5.1) grew by EUR 10.8 billion to EUR 135.2 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 16.8 billion to EUR 561 billion. On Wednesday, 27 January 2010, a main refinancing operation of EUR 58 billion matured and a new one of EUR 63.4 billion was settled. On Thursday, 28 January 2010, a longer-term refinancing operation of EUR 3.3 billion matured and a new one of EUR 3.3 billion was settled.

Recourse to the marginal lending facility (asset item 5.5) was EUR 0.1 billion (approximately the same as in the previous week), while recourse to the deposit facility (liability item 2.2) was EUR 165.3 billion (compared with EUR 143.1 billion in the preceding week).

The holdings by the Eurosystem of securities held for monetary policy purposes (asset item 7.1) increased by EUR 1.5 billion to EUR 33.5 billion in the week ending 29 January 2010.

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 24.7 billion to EUR 219.5 billion.