Regular OTC Derivatives Market Statistics

The Triennial Central Bank Survey of Foreign Exchange and Derivatives Market Activity on positions in the global over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives market shows that business expanded at a brisk pace in the three-year period ending in June 2001. According to preliminary data, the aggregate stock of contracts outstanding stood at nearly $100 trillion at end-June 2001, 38% higher than three years ago. There was, however, a divergence in the evolution of the two largest market segments, with the stock of interest rate products growing by 58% and that of foreign exchange instruments contracting by 7%. Moreover, data on credit derivatives show a rapid expansion of that market segment since end-June 1998.

The remainder of this press release sets the triennial data collection framework within the context of the regular semiannual surveys of activity in OTC derivatives markets and presents the main results of the most recent triennial and semiannual surveys for the period ending in June 2001.