Members of the European System of Central Banks (ESCB), including the Bundesbank, have renewed their Statements of Commitment to the FX Global Code. The Code, which aims to promote a robust, fair, liquid, open and appropriately transparent foreign exchange market, was updated and expanded in July 2021. According to an ECB press release “With these Statements of Commitment, the members of the ESCB emphasise that the principles of the Code are important in ensuring the continued integrity and effective functioning of the foreign exchange market.”

The devastating flooding last year hit people hard. Since then, employees at the Bundesbank have been processing numerous notes and coins from flood-affected areas – most of them by hand. More than 1.5 million banknotes and 1.2 million coins have been submitted to the Bundesbank so far, explained Bundesbank Executive Board member Johannes Beermann at a press conference in Mainz. “In total, the Bundesbank has replaced cash worth more than 100 million euro.”

Individuals contribute significantly to carbon emissions. A recent Bundesbank discussion paper shows that providing information on combating climate change motivates individuals to reduce their carbon footprint. Presenting the information as the result of scientific research is just as effective as framing it as the behaviour of other people, the study finds. Both approaches led to the survey respondents stating that they wish to make more environmentally friendly choices.

Am deutschen Rentenmarkt war die Emissionstätigkeit im Dezember 2021 – wie häufig zum Ende eines Jahres – schwächer als im Vormonat. Insgesamt wurden inländische Schuldverschreibungen für 84,1 Mrd € emittiert, verglichen mit 135,2 Mrd € im November. 

Germany’s current account recorded a surplus of €23.9 billion in December 2021, up €5.4 billion on the previous month’s level. The surplus in the goods account declined, but the surplus in invisible current transactions, which comprise services as well as primary and secondary income, increased considerably more strongly.