Brussels, 09/07/2009 (Agence Europe) - Balance between the main global currencies remained steady in 2008. In its most recent report on the international role of the euro, the European Central Bank (ECB) explained that “despite the financial turmoil, the global landscape of international currencies and with that, the share of the euro, remained steady”. The dollar remains the favourite currency reserve holding with 64% of the world's total at the end of 2008, as opposed to 65.4% at the end of 2007. With 26.5% (as opposed to 25.3% at the end of 2007), the euro made a degree of progress and strengthened its position in second place, ahead of the Japanese yen (3.3%). The changes observed between the end of 2007 and the end of 2008 are “in line” with previous fluctuations. The ECB highlights the increased weight of the euro in Eastern Europe for both members of the EU and accession candidate countries, with regard to purchasing goods, deposits and bank loans.
The ECB report was published on Wednesday 8 July and is available at: (http://www.ecb.int/pub/pdf/other/euro-international-role200907en.pdf?48659c1ba204fb0fcd9bc88782c55d74 ). (A.B./transl.rh)