Press releases

26 JUNE 2009: EXTENSION OF SWAP FACILITY WITH THE FEDERAL RESERVE

The temporary reciprocal currency arrangements (swap lines) of 15 billion US dollars between the Federal Reserve and other central banks including Danmarks Nationalbank, have been extended to 1 February 2010.

Danmarks Nationalbank continuously monitors the need for dollar auctions. Planned auctions are published on www.nationalbanken.dk, where further information on the dollar auctions can be found.

10 AUGUST 2009: NEW 50-KRONE BANKNOTE - 11 AUGUST

Tomorrow, 11 August, a 50-krone banknote will be issued as the first in a new Danish series. The banknote will be presented today during a press conference at Danmarks Nationalbank.

The new banknote series has Danish bridges and prehistoric finds as its theme. The new 50-krone banknote depicts the Sallingsund Bridge and the Skarpsalling Vessel. The series has been designed by the artist Karin Birgitte Lund in collaboration with Danmarks Nationalbank’s Banknote Printing Works. Karin Birgitte Lund has chosen to interpret bridges as links between various parts of Denmark and the banknotes as links between the past and the present. The present is represented by the bridges, and the past by five distinctive prehistoric objects found near the bridges.

The new banknote series is introduced with a view to enhancing secu rity. Technological advances mean that counterfeiters constantly gain access to improved tools for copying genuine banknotes. To remain one step ahead, Danmarks Nationalbank is incorporating new security features in the new banknotes. These new features include a window thread with a moving wave pattern and a new, sophisticated hologram that reflects light in different colours. The new banknotes will also have the traditional security features such as the watermark and the hidden security thread.

13 AUGUST 2009: INTEREST-RATE REDUCTION

Danmarks Nationalbank's lending rate is lowered by 0.1 percentage point to 1.45 per cent with effect as from 14 August 2009. The reduction is a consequence of purchases of foreign exchange in the market. At the same time, the rate of interest on certificates of deposits is lowered by 0.1 percentage point to 1.35 per cent, while the discount rate and the interest rate on the banks' current accounts are lowered by 0.1 percentage point to 1.10 per cent.

27. AUGUST 2009: INTEREST-RATE REDUCTION

Danmarks Nationalbank's lending rate is lowered by 0.1 percentage point to 1.35 per cent with effect as from 28 August 2009. The reduction is a consequence of purchases of foreign exchange in the market. The rate of interest on certificates of deposits is lowered by 0.1 percentage point to 1.25 per cent, while the discount rate and the interest rate on the banks' current accounts are lowered by 0.1 percentage point to 1.0 per cent.