Consolidated financial statement of the Eurosystem as at 21 April 2006

Items not related to monetary policy operations

In the week ending 21 April 2006, the decrease of EUR 42 million in gold and gold receivables (asset item 1) reflected the selling of gold by a 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) remained virtually unchanged at EUR 156.4 billion.

The holdings by the Eurosystem of marketable securities of euro area residents denominated in euro (asset item 7) increased by EUR 0.2 billion to EUR 95.1 billion. Banknotes in circulation (liability item 1) decreased by EUR 5.7 billion to EUR 565.9 billion. Liabilities to general government (liability item 5.1) rose by EUR 14 billion to EUR 60.8 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 9.6 billion to EUR 418.1 billion. On Wednesday, 19 April 2006, a main refinancing operation of EUR 288.5 billion matured and a new one of EUR 298 billion was settled.

Recourse to the marginal lending facility (asset item 5.5) was EUR 0.2 billion (compared with virtually nil in the preceding week), while recourse to the deposit facility (liability item 2.2) was EUR 0.1 billion (also compared with virtually nil in the previous 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 2.1 billion to EUR 161.7 billion.