Items not related to monetary policy operations

In the week ending 7 May 2010 the decrease of EUR 1 million in gold and gold receivables reflected the sale 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 decreased by EUR 0.5 billion to EUR 169.9 billion on account of customer and portfolio transactions.

The holdings by the Eurosystem of securities other than those held for monetary policy purposes increased by EUR 4 billion to EUR 308.5 billion. Banknotes in circulation increased by EUR 4.4 billion to EUR 802.6 billion. Liabilities to general government decreased by EUR 6.4 billion to EUR 98.6 billion.

Items related to monetary policy operations

The Eurosystem’s net lending to credit institutions decreased by EUR 14.1 billion to EUR 478 billion. On Wednesday, 5 May 2010, a main refinancing operation of EUR 75.6 billion matured and a new one of EUR 90.3 billion was settled.

Recourse to the marginal lending facility was EUR 2.4 billion (compared with EUR 0.8 billion in the previous week), while recourse to the deposit facility was EUR 282 billion (compared with EUR 251.6 billion in the preceding week).

The holdings by the Eurosystem of securities held for monetary policy purposes increased by EUR 1.4 billion to EUR 51.6 billion in the week ending 7 May 2010.

Current accounts of euro area credit institutions

As a result of all transactions, the current account position of credit institutions with the Eurosystem decreased by EUR 25.3 billion to EUR 172.2 billion.

Source of origin European Central Bank, Frankfurt am Main, Germany