Global OTC derivatives market activity in the second half of 2007

The OTC derivatives market showed relatively steady growth in the second half of 2007, amid the turmoil in global financial markets, according to The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) semiannual statistics.

Notional amounts of all categories of OTC contracts rose by 15% to $596 trillion at the end of December. Growth remained particularly strong in the credit segment, where the notional amounts of outstanding credit default swaps (CDSs) increased by 36% to $58 trillion. Expansion in the foreign exchange, interest rate and commodities segments was also relatively robust, recording double digit growth rates, while the equity segments showed a negative growth rate.

Gross market values, which measure the cost of replacing all existing contracts, increased by 30% and reached $15 trillion in total at the end of December 2007. Gross credit exposures, after netting agreements, also rose by 22% to $3.3 trillion.

The following trends are noted in the BIS statistical release:

Strong growth in credit default swaps
Solid growth in FX derivatives
Moderate growth in interest rate derivatives
Subdued activity in equity derivatives
Robust growth in commodity derivatives
Market concentration stable and low, particularly for FX derivatives

Global over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives activity in the second half of 2006
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