The steep slide in oil prices and the euro's depreciation stimulated economic growth in Germany towards the end of 2014. Gross domestic product (GDP) rose by 0.7% in real terms in the fourth quarter of 2014 compared with the third quarter. The Bundesbank writes in its latest Monthly Report that the economic upturn is set to continue in the current year.

The Bundesbank received its final payment from the insolvency proceedings concerning Lehman Brothers Bankhaus AG (LBB) in January 2015. Following the realisation of monetary policy collateral, there remained an outstanding claim of around €1.9 billion. This has now been settled in full by payments from the insolvency estate of LBB and payments from the insolvency estate of the group parent company in the USA.

Dr Johannes Beermann today took up office as a member of the Executive Board of the Deutsche Bundesbank. The Bundesbank's Executive Board has therefore reshuffled its areas of responsibility.

According to Bundesbank President Jens Weidmann, short-term financial assistance can only buy Greece time. Speaking on the sidelines of the meeting of the G20 finance ministers and central bank governors in Istanbul, Weidmann said that Greece could only solve its problems in the long run by making its public finances solid and its economy more competitive.