Consolidated Financial Statement of the Eurosystem as at 30 April 2004

I.  Items not related to monetary policy operations

In the week ending 30 April 2004 the net position of the Eurosystem in foreign currency (asset items 2 and 3 minus liability items 7, 8 and 9) increased by EUR 0.5 billion to EUR 174.8 billion on account of customer and portfolio transactions.

The holdings by the Eurosystem of marketable securities of euro area residents denominated in euro (asset item 7) decreased by EUR 0.2 billion to EUR 71 billion. Banknotes in circulation (liability item 1) increased by EUR 3.4 billion to EUR 435.4 billion. Liabilities to general government (liability item 5.1) rose by EUR 2.9 billion to EUR 56.3 billion.

II. 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 billion to EUR 294 billion. On Wednesday, 28 April 2004, a main refinancing operation of EUR 211 billion matured and a new one of EUR 220 billion was settled.

On Thursday, 29 April 2004, a longer-term refinancing operation of EUR 25 billion matured and a new one of EUR 25 billion was settled.

Recourse to both the marginal lending facility (asset item 5.5) and the deposit facility (liability item 2.2) was virtually nil, which was approximately the same as in the preceding week.