The following table shows the Central Bank of Iceland's Balance Sheet as
at the end of February 2004 with comparative figures for the end of January 2004
and end of December 2003.
The Central Bank's foreign reserves increased in
February by 0.9 b.kr. and amounted to 57.3 b.kr. at the end of the month
(equivalent to 822 m. US dollars at the exchange rate at the end of the month).
In February, the Central Bank purchased currency in the domestic
interbank market for 1.4 b.kr., which is consistent with the measures to
strengthen its external position as described inter alia in the November 2003
issue of the Bank's Monetary Bulletin.
The Icelandic króna weakened by
0.3% in February.
Central Bank claims on deposit money banks decreased by
5.1 b.kr. in February and amounted to 36.9 b.kr. at the end of the month. Claims
on other financial institutions rose by 2.8 b.kr. and stood at 7.5 b.kr. at the
end of the month.
Market value of listed securities in the Bank's
portfolio was 3.9 b.kr. at the end of February. Of this figure, listed Treasury
securities amounted to 0.7 b.kr.
Net claims on central government
decreased by 1 b.kr. in February and the Treasury's net deposit at the end of
the month stood at 29 b.kr.
Base money decreased by 1.4 b.kr. during the
month and amounted to 31 b.kr. at the end of February.
For further
information, contact the Governors of the Central Bank of Iceland or Erla
Árnadóttir, Chief Accountant, tel. (+354) 569-9600.
Press release with table (pdf-102kb)
No. 6/2004
March 5, 2004