FRANKFURT (MNI) – The European Central Bank said Tuesday that a
total of E44.427 billion Eurosystem covered bond purchases had settled
as of April 5.

As of March 31, settled acquisitions had totaled E44.327 billion,
the ECB said Thursday. 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$$$]