Consolidated financial statement of the Eurosystem as at 6 November 2009

In the week ending 6 November 2009 the decrease of EUR 20 million in gold and gold receivables (asset item 1) reflected the issue of commemorative gold coins 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) decreased by EUR 2.3 billion to EUR 171.8 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 securities other than those held for monetary policy purposes (asset item 7.2) decreased by EUR 0.4 billion to EUR 302.5 billion. Banknotes in circulation (liability item 1) increased by EUR 2.2 billion to EUR 773.8 billion. Liabilities to general government (liability item 5.1) decreased by EUR 36.4 billion to EUR 137.5 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 43.5 billion to EUR 540.9 billion. On Wednesday, 4 November 2009, a main refinancing operation of EUR 48.7 billion matured and a new one of EUR 46.2 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 128.9 billion (compared with EUR 87.8 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 billion to EUR 21.6 billion in the week ending 6 November 2009.

As a result of all transactions, the current account position of credit institutions with the Eurosystem (liability item 2.1) decreased by EUR 8.6 billion to EUR 180.9 billion.