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Michael Probst/AP

ECB pumps €529bn of new cash into European banking system

The second round of unusually lengthy lending sees the ECB lend €529bn to banks, hoping the cash will be passed onward.

THE EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK has announced almost €530 billion in new loans to the eurozone’s banks, in a second attempt to ease the difficulties of European consumers and companies in borrowing cash.

The ECB this morning said 800 banks had sought €529.53 billion in medium-term loans, which will be issued tomorrow and mature in February 2015.

The ‘longer-term refinancing operation’ marks the second round of longer-than-usual loans from the ECB, which ordinarily lends cash for either one-month or three-month periods.

The longer loans are an attempt to encourage banks to increase their supply of credit to businesses and consumers, a problem which is generally accepted to be key in helping Europe to overcome the current debt crisis.

The first round of loans, announced just before Christmas, saw banks take €489 billion in loans – though figures in early January indicated that banks were hoarding this cash by storing it in the ECB, and accepting a modest loss, instead of lending it out into the markets.

Read: ECB reports biggest-ever demand from banks for cheap loans >

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11 Comments
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    Mute Paddy O Donnell
    Favourite Paddy O Donnell
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    Feb 29th 2012, 11:05 AM

    if the banks are insisting on hoarding it take it back and give it to me, i’ll spend it all!!

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    Mute Mata Mata
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    Feb 29th 2012, 11:24 AM

    Taoiseach the Irish Bank are still not lending , not interested in SME or individuals , even though you have set up various devices . Our Government and the Irish People are being ignored the banks are hoarding cash and this is their unofficial policy !

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    Mute Sean Claffey
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    Feb 29th 2012, 12:33 PM

    Or they could give every EU citizen €1,000

    9
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    Mute Sean O'Keeffe
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    Feb 29th 2012, 11:32 AM

    Austrian Central bank governor, ” ECB has a problem with addicted banks”.
    http://investmentwatchblog.com/nowotny-says-ecb-has-problem-of-addicted-banks/

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    Mute Sean O'Keeffe
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    Feb 29th 2012, 11:52 AM

    The massive liquidity injections by Western Central banks (including todays ECB injection) are resulting in privations for the worlds poorest. Huge flows of cash from western nations are finding their way to emerging markets with inflationary effects. This is forcing up the price of basic commodities for the worlds poorest.
    http://m.guardian.co.uk/business/2011/jun/29/how-world-paid-hidden-cost-america-quantitative-easing?cat=business&type=article

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    Mute Réada Quinn
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    Feb 29th 2012, 12:11 PM

    They are amoral Sean.

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    Mute D Burns
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    Feb 29th 2012, 12:51 PM

    New cash?…my arse! Another €530 billion of computer generated money that we, the citizens of Europe will pay back in cash. Only then does that computer money become cash, and the gangsters at the top are wiping their arses with €50 notes!

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    Mute Tony Skillington
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    Feb 29th 2012, 12:39 PM

    if they’re hoping the banks will pass it on..they have a very questionable hold on reality.

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    Mute Patsyjoe
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    Feb 29th 2012, 11:43 AM

    All i need is 0.00008% of that and I’m sorted!! Back in the black.

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    Mute justsaying
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    Feb 29th 2012, 5:26 PM

    So the Central Bank is HOPING that the extra money will be passed on?!?! Pull the other one. This press release is trying to make it seem like the ECB care about money being passed on,in loans. They don’t! They only care about what they can squeeze out of the countries they are supposed to be helping.

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    Mute justsaying
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    Feb 29th 2012, 5:28 PM

    It’s a bit like the Irish government, HOPING that interest rate cuts will be passed on to customers!

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