The European sovereign debt crisis remains the greatest threat to financial stability in Germany. The Bundesbank considers that a substantial worsening of the situation would have a significant adverse impact on German banks and insurers. In addition, low interest rates, high liquidity and potential exaggerations in the German real estate market could pose a future threat to financial stability.

German banks’ lending in the third quarter of 2012 was characterised by restrictive adjustments, according to the Bundesbank’s latest survey findings.

Selected results of the financial accounts by sector

A study has shown that private individuals carry €103 in cash, of which around €5.90 is in coins. This is a total of €15 less than in 2008.

Germany’s financial ties with the rest of the world intensified further in 2011, partly due to the crisis. However, growth in cross-border positions was significantly weaker than one year previously.

The Deutsche Bundesbank’s Executive Board met the Council of the Bank of Latvia today in Frankfurt. The main topics of discussion were the economic situation in Latvia and Germany and upcoming reforms within the European Union.

The credit standards for lending to non-financial corporations in Germany have remained largely unchanged in the second quarter of 2012, according to the Bundesbank’s latest survey findings.

In the first half of 2012, the Bundesbank detected approximately 19,000 counterfeit euro banknotes in German payments. This means that the number of counterfeits fell by 5% compared with the second half of 2011.

The Deutsche Bundesbank calculates the basic rate of interest pursuant to section 247 (1) of the German Civil Code (Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch) and publishes its effective level in the Federal Gazette (Bundesanzeiger) pursuant to section 247 (2) of the German Civil Code.