ANNUAL REPORT 2008 - Polymer Bank Notes of the World
ANNUAL REPORT 2008 - Polymer Bank Notes of the World
ANNUAL REPORT 2008 - Polymer Bank Notes of the World
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• Since 14 November <strong>the</strong> Eurosystem has also accepted marketable debt instruments issued in<strong>the</strong> euro area and denominated in US dollars, pounds sterling and Japanese yen, provided that<strong>the</strong> issuer is established in <strong>the</strong> EEA.In order to fulfil <strong>the</strong> Eurosystem’s statutory obligation to ensure that its balance sheet remainsprotected against financial risk, risk control measures are applied to <strong>the</strong> enlarged set <strong>of</strong> eligiblecollateral. The expansion <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> eligibility criteria is thus combined with vigilant monitoring <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong> use <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> framework.LIQUIDITY NEEDS OF THE BANKING SYSTEMWhen supplying liquidity through openmarket operations, <strong>the</strong> Eurosystem takes intoaccount a daily assessment <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> liquidityneeds <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> aggregate euro area bankingsystem. These liquidity needs are determinedby <strong>the</strong> sum <strong>of</strong> minimum reserve requirements,funds held in excess <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se requirements oncredit institutions’ current accounts with <strong>the</strong>Eurosystem (excess reserves) and autonomousfactors. Autonomous factors are those itemson <strong>the</strong> Eurosystem’s balance sheet, such asbanknotes in circulation and governmentdeposits, which have an impact on creditinstitutions’ current account holdings but arenot under <strong>the</strong> direct control <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Eurosystem’sliquidity management.In <strong>2008</strong> <strong>the</strong> average daily liquidity needs <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong> euro area banking system amounted to€487.1 billion, 10.3% higher than in 2007(see Chart 41). One reason for <strong>the</strong> increase was<strong>the</strong> continued growth in reserve requirements,by 12.5%, to €210.8 billion. Ano<strong>the</strong>r importantreason was an exceptional increase in <strong>the</strong>demand for banknotes which was unrelatedto seasonal factors. Chart 42 shows that<strong>the</strong> amount <strong>of</strong> banknotes in circulation rosesignificantly, by more than 6% betweenSeptember and early November <strong>2008</strong>, whichcontributed to <strong>the</strong> total increase in liquidityneeds. Overall, in <strong>2008</strong> autonomous factorsincreased by 8.9% to €274.5 billion. Althoughaverage excess reserves for <strong>the</strong> maintenanceperiods ending in <strong>2008</strong> increased comparedwith 2007, by €0.2 billion to €1.1 billion, <strong>the</strong>yremained negligible in relative terms at 0.5% <strong>of</strong>reserve requirements.Chart 41 Liquidity factors in <strong>the</strong> euro areain <strong>2008</strong>(EUR billions)1,0008006004002000-200-400-600autonomous factorsopen market operations (outstanding volume)minimum reserve requirementscurrent accountsJan. Mar. May July Sep. Nov.<strong>2008</strong>Source: ECB.Chart 42 <strong>Bank</strong>notes in circulation(EUR billions)800750700650600550500450<strong>2008</strong>200720062005400Jan. Mar. May July Sep. Nov.Source: ECB.1,0008006004002000-200-400-600800750700650600550500450400104 ECBAnnual Report<strong>2008</strong>