The following data are from the Central Bank of Iceland's Balance Sheet as at
the end of September 2003 with comparative figures for the end of December 2002
and changes within the month and from the beginning of 2003.
The Central
Bank's foreign reserves increased by 5.3 b.kr. and amounted to 46.4 b.kr. at the
end of September (equivalent to 611 m. US dollars at the exchange rate at the
end of the month). The Bank now has no foreign short-term liabilities in
connection with its foreign reserves; at the beginning of the year these
liabilities amounted to just over 16 b.kr.
In September, the Central Bank
purchased currency in the domestic interbank market for 4.4 b.kr., which is
consistent with the measures to strengthen its external position as described
inter alia in the May issue of the Bank's Monetary Bulletin. The Icelandic króna
strengthened by 0.4% in August.
Market value of listed securities in the
Bank's portfolio was 4.3 b.kr. at the end of September. Of this figure, listed
Treasury securities amounted to 1.2 b.kr.
Central Bank claims on deposit
money banks decreased by 5.9 b.kr. in September and amounted to 55.7 b.kr. at
the end of the month. Claims on other financial institutions also declined, by
4.1 b.kr., and at the end of September they amounted to 3.1 b.kr.
Net claims
on central government decreased by 5.3 b.kr. in September and the Treasury's net
deposit at the end of the month stood at 28.2 b.kr.
Base money decreased
by 9.4 b.kr. during the month and amounted to 31.6 b.kr. at the end of
September.
For further information, contact the Governors of the Central
Bank of Iceland and Erla Árnadóttir, Chief Accountant, tel. (+354)
569-9600.
The press relase with tables pdf. (84 kb)
No.22 /2003
6 October 2003