In the past, financial system crises have often been triggered or accompanied by a protracted marked rise and then abrupt sharp fall in property prices. At the sixteenth Bundesbank Spring Conference, leading global economists, central bank representatives and delegates from international organisations presented and discussed their latest findings on this topic.

The Bundesbank posted a profit of €4.6 billion for the 2013 financial year. "Despite interest income being lower, the Bundesbank has recorded a higher profit for 2013 than for 2012 as it has not been necessary to transfer any more funds to the risk provisions," Bundesbank President Jens Weidmann explained at the Bundesbank’s 2013 financial statements press conference.

ECB Executive Board member Sabine Lautenschläger says that banks in Europe would be put through their paces. "I think it's hugely important for our stress test to be tough," she commented on the second day of the Bundesbank's symposium. This year was an opportunity to straighten things up, she added.

Bundesbank President Jens Weidmann believes that financial stability must not be adopted as an additional monetary policy objective on a par with price stability. This would put the credibility of central banks at risk, he explained at a Bundesbank symposium. Monetary policy was not a suitable instrument for safeguarding financial stability. Renowned economists then discussed the interaction between monetary policy and financial stability.

When a country joins the European Union or the euro area, that country's central bank takes a share in the capital of the European Central Bank. To make sure a correct weighting is maintained amongst the member states, the European Central Bank adjusts the "capital key" for all the national central banks on a regular basis.

At a press conference presenting this year's Financial Stability Review, Bundesbank Deputy President Sabine Lautenschläger and Executive Board member Andreas Dombret commented that the tensions on the international financial markets had eased, which had also benefited the German financial system. Yet they warned that the side-effects of the crisis measures were now becoming increasingly apparent – especially for banks and insurers.

The Bretton Woods fixed exchange rate system collapsed 40 years ago.

By 2020, the Bundesbank intends to store half of Germany’s gold reserves in its own vaults in Germany.

The potential consequences of inflation demonstrate how important it is to keep the value of a currency stable. The German Empire experienced hyperinflation and hidden inflation during and after both world wars. West Germany also saw comparatively high inflation rates in the 1970s.

On 10 October 2012, the Deutsche Bundesbank held a one-day cash symposium in Frankfurt am Main.