Debt securities, Q1 2001

There has been an increase of 39 per cent in issues of bonds compared with 2000. In the 1.quarter of 2001 NOK 21.7 billion worth of bonds were issued in Norway. By comparison, NOK 15.6 billion worth of bonds where issued during the same period in 2000. Outstanding bond loan debt at 31. March 2001 was NOK 428.1 billion against NOK 384.9 billion at the same time in 2000. This is an increase in outstanding debt of 11.2 per cent. Central government issued NOK 5 billion worth of bonds during the first quarter and commercial banks issued NOK 2.3 billion. Savings banks issued NOK 6.2 billion worth of bonds.

NOK 86,4 billion worth of commercial papers issues

During the 1.quarter 2001 NOK 86.4? billion worth of commercial papers were issued in Norway. The issue volume at the end of March 2001 was increased with 25.8 per cent compared with the same period the year before. Outstanding debt at the end of March 2001 was NOK 135.5? billion. This is an increase in debt of NOK 24.6 billion or 22 per cent from the same time the year before. Savings banks and commercial banks issued commercial papers worth NOK 22.7? and 16.7 billion respectively, while central government issued NOK 14 billion worth of commercial papers.

Issues abroad in NOK and foreign currency

Statistics on issues of bonds and commercial papers offered abroad in NOK and foreign currency are obtained from The Norwegian Central Bank. From the first quarter 2001 special ECP and USCP programs are included. The statistics show that issues during the first quarter 2001 was NOK 114.1 billion. Mortgage companies are the largest borrowers in the foreign market, with NOK 103.4 billion, more than 90 per cent of the total issue volume.