Balance of payments, October 2011

Current account

The current account posted a deficit of EUR 0.4 bn in October. This is considerably less than a year previously, when the current account was enhanced by a large ship order. Since the beginning of 2011 (January –October), the current account accrued a deficit of EUR 1.3 bn. This is compared to the corresponding period a year earlier, when it recorded a surplus of EUR 2.1 bn.

• In BOP terms, there was a deficit in October of EUR 0.4 bn on the balance of trade.
• There was a surplus posted on services to the amount of EUR 0.2 bn.
• The income account posted a deficit of EUR 0.1 bn.
• The current transfers account posted a deficit of EUR 0.1 bn.

Financial account

Investment was inward on net, in the amount of EUR 1.7 bn.

• There was a EUR 0.3 bn net inflow of capital in the form of direct investment.
• Portfolio investment was inward on net, in the amount of EUR 0.8 bn.
• Other investments (loans, deposits, trade credits) resulted in a net capital inflow of EUR 0.8 bn.

Net international investment position at the end of October

The international investment position was a positive EUR 29 bn.

• Finnish residents' foreign claims were EUR 618 bn.
• Finnish residents' foreign liabilities were EUR 589 bn.

Finland's net international investment position excluding equity items was a negative, in the amount of EUR 42 bn.