On Monday, December 28, the European Central Bank (ECB) announced its weekly Main Refinancing Operation (MRO). This auction, which was conducted on Tuesday, attracted bids for €78.65 billion from euro area eligible counterparties, €20.07 billion more than the amount bid for in the previous week.

The bid amount was allotted in full at a fixed rate equivalent to the prevailing main refinancing rate of one per cent in accordance with the current ECB policy. In the domestic primary market for Treasury bills, the Treasury invited tenders for 183-day bills maturing on July 2. Bids for €34.76 million were submitted, but none were accepted. This was the fourth consecutive week during which the Treasury opted not to accept any bids. Since no bills matured during the week, the outstanding balance of Treasury bills remained unchanged at €474.14 million.

Today, the Treasury will invite tenders for 91-day bills maturing on April 9 and 182-day bills maturing on July 9. Treasury bill trading on the Malta Stock Exchange amounted to €5.52 million during the week, with all trades being conducted by the Central Bank of Malta in its role as market maker. Off-exchange transactions, all conducted by the Central Bank of Malta, amounted to €5.89 million.