Consolidated financial statement of the Eurosystem as at 6 October 2006

Items not related to monetary policy operations

In the week ending 6 October 2006, the decrease of EUR 40 million in gold and gold receivables (asset item 1) reflected the selling of gold by one Eurosystem central bank (consistent with the Central Bank Gold Agreement of 27 September 2004).

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 153.2 billion on account of customer and portfolio transactions.

The holdings by the Eurosystem of marketable securities of euro area residents denominated in euro (asset item 7) remained virtually unchanged at EUR 81.6 billion. Banknotes in circulation (liability item 1) increased by EUR 3.7 billion to EUR 592.9 billion. Liabilities to general government (liability item 5.1) decreased by EUR 6.1 billion to EUR 60.3 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 0.3 billion to EUR 431.9 billion. On Tuesday, 3 October 2006, a main refinancing operation of EUR 313 billion matured and a new one of EUR 312 billion was settled.

Recourse to the marginal lending facility (asset item 5.5) was virtually nil (compared with EUR 0.5 billion in the previous week), while recourse to the deposit facility (liability item 2.2) was EUR 0.1 billion (compared with EUR 1.3 billion in the preceding week).

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) increased by EUR 3.8 billion to EUR 165.8 billion.