The Bank of England said it had providedthe money market with 1.143 billion mln stg assistance in
response to an early round of bill offers from the discount
houses.
    Earlier, the Bank forecast the system would face a very
large deficit today of around 1.75 billion stg.
    The central bank purchased bank bills outright comprising
393 mln stg in band one at 9-7/8 pct, 649 mln stg in band two
at 9-13/16 pct and 85 mln stg in band three at 9-3/4 pct.
    In addition it bought 16 mln stg of local authority bills
in band two at 9-13/16 pct.
 REUTER
