Zurich  - Four key central banks have agreed to provide foreign currency to the Federal Reserve so that it can pump liquidity into financial institutions in need of capital, the Swiss National Bank said Monday.

Should the need arise, the Fed would be able to access euro, yen, sterling and Swiss francs through the new swap agreements, which come on top of previous commitments, with the European Central Bank, Bank of Japan, Bank of England and the Swiss National Bank.

These deals, in effect until October, would give swap lines of up to 30 billion pounds, 80 billion euros, 10 trillion yen , and 40 billion Swiss Francs.

"Central banks continue to work together and are taking steps as appropriate to foster stability in global financial markets," the Swiss bank said in a statement, noting it had a mirror agreement allowing it to draw US dollars. (dpa)