ECB: increase of EUR 3 million in gold and gold receivables

19 April 2011 - Consolidated financial statement of the Eurosystem as at 15 April 2011

Items not related to monetary policy operations

In the week ending 15 April 2011 the increase of EUR 3 million in gold and gold receivables (asset item 1) reflected the purchase of gold by one Eurosystem central bank (consistent with the Central Bank Gold Agreement that came into effect on 27 September 2009).

The net position of the Eurosystem in foreign currency (asset items 2 and 3 minus liability items 7, 8 and 9) increased by EUR 0.6 billion to EUR 176.6 billion on account of customer and portfolio transactions.

The holdings by the Eurosystem of marketable securities other than those held for monetary policy purposes (asset item 7.2) decreased by EUR 0.3 billion to EUR 333.8 billion. Banknotes in circulation (liability item 1) increased by EUR 2.4 billion to EUR 830.9 billion. Liabilities to general government (liability item 5.1) decreased by EUR 2.8 billion to EUR 57.8 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) increased by EUR 31.2 billion to EUR 331.3 billion. On Wednesday, 13 April 2011, a main refinancing operation of EUR 84.5 billion matured and a new one of EUR 94.1 billion was settled. On the same day, a longer-term refinancing operation of EUR 82.5 billion matured and a new one of EUR 83.7 billion was settled. Also on Wednesday, 13 April 2011, fixed-term deposits in an amount of EUR 77 billion matured and new deposits were collected in an amount of EUR 77 billion, with a maturity of one week.

Recourse to the marginal lending facility (asset item 5.5) was EUR 0.2 billion (approximately the same as in the previous week), while recourse to the deposit facility (liability item 2.2) was EUR 10 billion (compared with EUR 30.5 billion in the preceding week).

The holdings by the Eurosystem of securities held for monetary policy purposes (asset item 7.1) decreased by EUR 0.9 billion to EUR 136.6 billion. This decrease was due to securities purchased under the Securities Markets Programme and the covered bond purchase programme reaching maturity. Therefore, in the week ending 15 April 2011 the value of accumulated purchases under the Securities Markets Programme and that of the portfolio held under the covered bond purchase programme totalled EUR 76.1 billion and EUR 60.5 billion respectively. Both portfolios are accounted for on a held-to-maturity basis.

For details of the report, please see the following pressrelease.