Brussels, 06/03/2009 (Agence Europe) - The Governing Council of the European Central Bank (ECB) signed off its annual accounts for 2008 on Thursday 5 March 2009. Last year, the ECB's income stood at €2.661 billion, generated by the euro's rise against the US dollar and also, to a lesser extent, against the Japanese yen, explains the ECB in a press release issued on the same day. The bank's income rose sharply on 2007, when its net income stood at €286 million. Some €1.339bn was transferred to a special fund for intervention to head off the dangers of variations in currency values, interest rates or gold prices, bringing the net outstanding amount for 2008 to €1.322 bn. ECB income comes mostly from investment of its currency reserves and interest on its 8% holding of the euro notes in circulation. (A.B./transl.fl)