Further details about Bank of England foreign currency assets and liabilities data

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Overview

These comprise foreign currency assets, gold and other assets. Foreign currency assets comprise currency and deposits (held with monetary authorities and banks) and securities (equities, bonds and notes, and money market instruments).

Other assets include capital items, (investments and participation in international financial institutions), together with the net claim on other central banks arising from participation in the TARGET system, foreign currency forwards and swap positions (net MTM value of foreign currency forwards, interest rate and cross currency swaps (incl. sterling leg)) and reverse repos (claims on counterparties for foreign currency lent in reverse repos).

Valuation

Bank of England holdings of foreign currency and gold are marked to market using end-period market prices and exchange rates.

Bank of England Foreign Currency Liabilities

These comprise short-term deposit liabilities arising from deposits placed with the Bank of England by non-resident central banks and other customers as part of their banking relationship with the Bank. Money market instruments reflect liabilities on account of the issue of euro denominated Bank of England Bills. These are issued with a maturity of one, three and six months. The Bank of England began issuing euro bills in April 1999.