ECB monetary operations
On February 12, the European Central Bank announced the seven-day main refinancing operations (MRO). The operation was conducted on February 13 and attracted bids from euro area eligible counterparties of €4,310 million, €430 million less than the previous week. The amount was allotted in full at a fixed rate equivalent to the prevailing MRO rate of 4.50%, in accordance with current ECB policy.
On February 14, the ECB conducted a seven-day US dollar funding operation through collateralised lending in conjunction with the US Federal Reserve. This operation attracted bids of $214 million, which were allotted in full at a fixed rate of 5.58%.
Domestic Treasury bill market
In the domestic primary market for Treasury bills, the Treasury invited tenders for 91-day and 181-day bills for settlement value February 15, maturing on May 16 and August 14, respectively.
Bids of €75.60 million were submitted for the 91-day bills, with the Treasury accepting €14.75 million, while bids of €35.05 million were submitted for the 181-day bills, with the Treasury accepting €8.29 million. Since €52.31 million worth of bills matured during the week, the outstanding balance of Treasury bills decreased by €29.27 million, standing at €663.66 million.
The yield from the 91-day bill auction was 3.399%, decreasing by 5.80 basis points from bids with a similar tenor issued on February 8, representing a bid price of €99.1481 per €100 nominal.
The yield from the 181-day bill auction was 3.287%, decreasing by 9.50 basis points from bids with a similar tenor also issued on February 8, representing a bid price of €98.3742 per €100 nominal.
During the week, secondary market turnover in Malta Government Treasury bills amounted to €400,000, all executed on the On-exchange market of the Malta Stock Exchange.
Today, February 20, the Treasury will invite tenders for 91-day and 182-day bills maturing on May 23 and August 22, respectively.
The report is prepared by the Monetary Operations and Collateral Management Office of the Central Bank of Malta.