Germany is facing unprecedented challenges as a result of the rapid spread of the coronavirus pandemic, according to the Bundesbank’s latest Monthly Report. The experts regard a slide into a marked recession as being unavoidable. An economic recovery would set in only when the pandemic risk had been effectively brought under control.

Germany’s current account surplus dropped by €2 billion to €245½ billion in 2019. As a percentage of German gross domestic product (GDP), the balance sank to 7¼ percent.

Given the escalating diffusion of the coronavirus, the European Central Bank (ECB) has launched a new, temporary asset purchase programme. Under this programme, the Pandemic Emergency Purchase Programme (PEPP), the ECB will purchase a total of €750 billion worth of assets by the end of 2020.

iven the anticipated need for credit in the real economy, BaFin intends to lower the countercyclical capital buffer from 0.25% to 0% as of 1 April 2020. This preventive measure will strengthen the German banking sector’s ability to lend.

Bundesbank Executive Board member Johannes Beermann has indicated that the risk of picking up coronavirus via cash is extremely minimal. In a press briefing at the Bundesbank, Mr Beermann noted that “the probability of becoming ill from handling cash is smaller than from many other objects used in everyday life”.

The European Central Bank and other major central banks have agreed on a coordinated action to safeguard the provision of credit institutions with cheap US dollar loans. This will serve as a liquidity backstop amidst the coronavirus pandemic and strengthen the supply of credit to households and enterprises. Bundesbank President Jens Weidmann welcomed the coordinated action.

In light of the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic, the ECB has announced new liquidity assistance measures to bolster the flow of credit to the economy. In this context, the ECB is focusing primarily on small and medium-sized enterprises. Furthermore, the ECB will acquire €120 billion worth of securities until the end of the year in addition to the bond purchases that have already been planned. The key interest rates will remain unchanged.  

The Bundesbank posted a profit of €5.8 billion for the 2019 financial year. Following adjustment of the reserves, the Bank registered its highest distributable profit since 2008, at €5.9 billion. “Lower risk provisioning is the main reason for this strong rise in the profit for the year,” Bundesbank President Jens Weidmann explained.

At its monetary policy meeting on 23 January, the Governing Council of the ECB decided to review its monetary policy strategy. Alongside the national central banks, this newly launched process will also engage with the general public and civil society.

Bundesbank President Jens Weidmann received ECB President Christine Lagarde at the Bundesbank. Mr Weidmann showed Ms Lagarde the Money Museum and the TARGET2 room.