2010 Triennial Central Bank Survey of Foreign Exchange and Derivatives Market Activity

Press release  | 
15 September 2009

Every three years, the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) coordinates a global central bank survey designed to yield comprehensive and internationally consistent information on the size and structure of foreign exchange (FX) and over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives markets. By increasing market transparency, the survey aims to help monetary authorities and market participants better monitor patterns of activity and exposures in the global financial system.

The BIS announced today that it will conduct the eighth such triennial survey in April and June 2010. The 54 participating central banks will compile data collected from the reporting financial institutions in their countries for submission to the BIS, which will calculate and publish the global totals. In April 2010, data will be collected on daily turnover in notional amounts of FX spot as well as FX and interest rate OTC derivatives transactions. Data as at end-June will be collected on outstanding notional amounts and gross market values of FX, interest rate, equity, commodity and other OTC derivatives contracts as well as credit default swaps (CDS).

The BIS has been working with central banks to prepare the survey guidelines and reporting templates for the upcoming exercise. The turnover part of the survey will be conducted on a residence (locational) basis, the amounts outstanding part on a global consolidated basis. More than 4,000 financial institutions worldwide are expected to participate.

Instead of a single final report as for the previous surveys, the 2010 publication will be split into two parts according to the following timeline:

  • Global activity on traditional FX markets and associated OTC derivatives instruments
    • End-August: preliminary results on turnover at end-April
    • November: detailed report (including notional amounts outstanding and gross market values)
  • Non-FX OTC derivatives and CDS global positions and gross market values at end-June
    • End-October: preliminary results
    • December: detailed analysis