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Published: 28 March 2018

General government net financial assets increased in all quarters of 2017

General government net financial assets, that is, the difference between financial assets and liabilities, amounted to EUR 130.9 billion at the end of 2017. Net financial assets went up by EUR 1.1 billion from the third quarter. The net financial assets of employment pension schemes and other social security funds grew by a total of EUR 2.7 billion. Central government's net financial assets remained almost unchanged but local government's net financial assets declined by EUR 1.8 billion. These data derive from general government financial accounts compiled by Statistics Finland.

General government’s net financial assets

According to preliminary data, general government's total net financial assets grew by EUR 16.1 billion over the whole year 2017. The annual change of 14.0 per cent is considerable when comparing with the 3.1 per cent growth of the year before.

Central government's net financial assets grew by EUR 0.2 billion from the previous quarter's level, amounting to EUR -64.2 billion at the end of 2017. Central government's assets increased by EUR 2.3 billion, which was mainly caused by an increase in the value of quoted shares. Liabilities increased by EUR 2.1 billion mainly because the stock of bonds grew. These factors resulted in a slight growth in central government's net financial assets.

Local government's net financial assets contracted by EUR 1.8 billion. Transferable deposits declined by EUR 0.65 billion, while other liabilities grew by EUR 1.4 billion. At the end of the last quarter, the stock of long-term loans stood at EUR 17.0 billion. Growth amounted to EUR 0.4 billion from the previous quarter.

Employment pension schemes' net financial assets grew by EUR 2.6 billion in the last quarter of 2017. The stock of mutual fund shares increased by EUR 4.1 billion of which holding gains accounted for EUR 1.2 billion. The stock of share investments increased by EUR 0.4 billion mainly thanks to holding gains. The amount of assets invested in debt securities decreased by EUR 0.3 billion. The net financial assets of other social security funds remained almost unchanged at EUR 1.8 billion.

Source: General government financial accounts, Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Aaro Hottinen 029 551 3231, Henna Laasonen 029 551 3303, rahoitus.tilinpito@stat.fi

Director in charge: Ville Vertanen

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Appendix tables

• Appendix table 1. General government financial assets, liabilities and net assets, EUR billion (28.3.2018)

Figures

• Appendix figure 1. Shares and other equity held by employment pension schemes (28.3.2018)
• Appendix figure 2. Financial assets of central government (28.3.2018)

Revisions in these statistics

• Revisions in these statistics (28.3.2018)

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Updated 28.03.2018