The German current account recorded a surplus of €30.2 billion in March 2021, up €11.5 billion on the previous month’s level. This was due to a considerable increase in the surplus on invisible current transactions, which comprise not only services but also primary and secondary income, as well as that in the goods account.

Machine learning, artificial intelligence and the digital euro – at the BaFinTech industry meeting, Bundesbank Executive Board members Joachim Wuermeling and Burkhard Balz spoke about the opportunities and risks of the digitalisation of banking business and central bank digital currency. The BaFinTech format was aimed at the financial industry.

Times of strong growth and low interest rates have seen vulnerabilities build up in the German financial system. In addition, the probability of an economic downturn has increased. “Now is the time to build up sufficient capital and strengthen the financial system’s defences,” said Bundesbank Vice-President Claudia Buch at the press conference on the publication of the new Financial Stability Review.

The financial assets of households rose by €64 billion, or 1.3%, on the previous quarter to €4,871 billion by the end of the third quarter.