Large gains from managing the foreign currency debt
The active management of the foreign currency debt during 2002 yielded a gain of SEK 400 million. In addition, the Debt Office's strategic foreign currency position yielded a realised gain of SEK 450 million. The Debt Office increased the dollar debt and increased the euro debt. The unrealised gain on the position was about SEK 3 billion at the turn of the year.
The active management of the foreign currency debt during 2002 yielded a gain of SEK 400 million. In addition, the Debt Office's strategic foreign currency position yielded a realised gain of SEK 450 million. The Debt Office increased the dollar debt and increased the euro debt. The unrealised gain on the position was about SEK 3 billion at the turn of the year.
Small investors save SEK 300 million for the central government
The interest for the central government savings products keep growing. By borrowing directly from Swedish households and small investors, the Debt Office reduced the costs of the central government debt by more than SEK 300 million in 2002. National Debt Savings (RiksgäldsSpar) grew to nearly SEK 4 billion. In two years the volume of savings in the National Debt Savings has doubled, from SEK 7.5 billion to SEK 15.5 billion. The sale of Lottery Bonds also increased.
Increased borrowing requirement and lower interest costs
The 2002 central government budget surplus fell to SEK 1.2 billion, SEK 37.5 billion less than in 2001. Increased payments for pensions and health insurance, lower tax rates and reduced revenue from such sources as the capital gains tax are among the reasons for the smaller surplus. The central government debt was almost unchanged. However, the debt ratio - the central government debt as a percentage of GDP- continued to fall and amounted to 50 per cent at the turn of the year. Since 1998 interest payments on the central government debt have declined from
SEK 114 billion to SEK 65 billion, owing chiefly to reduced debt and low market interest rates.
The 2002 central government budget surplus fell to SEK 1.2 billion, SEK 37.5 billion less than in 2001. Increased payments for pensions and health insurance, lower tax rates and reduced revenue from such sources as the capital gains tax are among the reasons for the smaller surplus. The central government debt was almost unchanged. However, the debt ratio - the central government debt as a percentage of GDP- continued to fall and amounted to 50 per cent at the turn of the year. Since 1998 interest payments on the central government debt have declined from
SEK 114 billion to SEK 65 billion, owing chiefly to reduced debt and low market interest rates.
Direct foreign currency borrowing
The Debt Office refrained from amortising the foreign currency debt due to the weak exchange rate for the krona, mainly early last year. Therefore the Debt Office needed to borrow in foreign currency to refinance maturing foreign currency loans. For the first time since 1999, the Debt Office borrowed directly in foreign currency. For one of these loans, the Debt Office was given the 2002 Eurodollar Bond Award by the International Financing Review (IFR).
The Debt Office refrained from amortising the foreign currency debt due to the weak exchange rate for the krona, mainly early last year. Therefore the Debt Office needed to borrow in foreign currency to refinance maturing foreign currency loans. For the first time since 1999, the Debt Office borrowed directly in foreign currency. For one of these loans, the Debt Office was given the 2002 Eurodollar Bond Award by the International Financing Review (IFR).
Increased demand for inflation-linked bonds
The demand for inflation-linked bonds grew substantially during 2002, owing to investors' increased appreciation of the risks of investing in shares. Issues of inflation-linked bonds totalled about SEK 9 billion.
The demand for inflation-linked bonds grew substantially during 2002, owing to investors' increased appreciation of the risks of investing in shares. Issues of inflation-linked bonds totalled about SEK 9 billion.
Framework agreement for lower costs and improved competition in the banking sector
The Debt Office in its role as the body responsible for the central government's internal bank and the central government payments system has simplified the authorities' debt management; the result has been large administrative gains. The Debt Office also began work on putting together a new framework agreement with private banks in their role as payment agencies for the central government. The goal is to increase the competition between payment agencies and reduce the central government's costs. The present system, estimated to cost the central government over SEK 200 million a year in the form of forgone interest revenue, is to be replaced by fee-based agreements.
For more information, please contact:
Thomas Franzén, tel. +46 8-613 46 51
Erik Thedéen, tel. +46 8-613 46 46
Thomas Franzén, tel. +46 8-613 46 51
Erik Thedéen, tel. +46 8-613 46 46