Consolidated financial statement of the Eurosystem as at 5 June 2009

In the week ending 5 June 2009 the decrease of EUR 18 million in gold and gold receivables (asset item 1) reflected the sale of gold by two Eurosystem central banks (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 5.4 billion to EUR 237 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 1.6 billion to EUR 298.2 billion. Banknotes in circulation (liability item 1) increased by EUR 2.1 billion to EUR 763.5 billion. Liabilities to general government (liability item 5.1) decreased by EUR 14.5 billion to EUR 136.7 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 53.5 billion to EUR 604 billion. On Wednesday, 3 June 2009, a main refinancing operation of EUR 276.8 billion matured and a new one of EUR 227.6 billion was settled.

Recourse to the marginal lending facility (asset item 5.5) was EUR 1.7 billion (compared with EUR 0.2 billion in the previous week), while recourse to the deposit facility (liability item 2.2) was EUR 28.8 billion (compared with EUR 23 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 41 billion to EUR 206.9 billion.

It should be noted that some items of the consolidated weekly financial statement of the Eurosystem as at 29 May 2009 (published on 2 June 2009) were updated, due to the receipt of a revised balance sheet from one Eurosystem central bank, although the changes were immaterial.