FRANKFURT (MNI) – The European Central Bank said Monday that a
total of E52.401 billion Eurosystem covered bond purchases had settled
as of May 16.

As of May 13, settled acquisitions had totaled E52.312 billion, the
ECB said Friday. The ECB plans to buy a total of around E60 billion
covered bonds by the end of June 2010 at the latest.

The program is aimed at revitalizing a market segment that has been
exceptionally hard hit by the financial turmoil.

–Frankfurt Bureau tel.: +49-69-720 142, email: frankfurt@marketnews.com

[TOPICS: MT$$$$,M$$EC$,M$$FI$,M$X$$$,MGX$$$]