BIS: OTC derivatives market activity in the first half of 2011

16 November 2011

After an increase of only 3 per cent in the second half of 2010, total notional amounts outstanding of over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives rose by 18 per cent in the first half of 2011, reaching $708 trillion by the end of June 2011.

Notional amounts outstanding of credit default swaps (CDS) grew by 8 per cent, while outstanding equity-linked contracts went up by 21 per cent.

Gross market value of all OTC contracts declined by 8 per cent, driven mainly by the 10 per cent reduction in the market value of interest rate contracts. CDS market values were almost unchanged.

Overall gross credit exposure dropped by a further 15 per cent to $3.0 trillion, compared with a 3 per cent decrease in the second half of 2010.

Press release

© BIS - Bank for International Settlements