Semi-Annual Report on Foreign Exchange Turnover

April 2010

The Semi-Annual Report on Foreign Exchange Turnover compiles data from 28 financial institutions that are active in the Australian foreign exchange market and is drawn from the Reserve Bank of Australia’s monthly turnover survey. The results for April 2010 are presented in the summary tables and charts below.

The main findings of the report are:

Total average daily turnover in all foreign exchange instruments in the Australian market was US$191.2 billion in April 2010. This was an increase of 35 per cent from October 2009, and an increase of 54 per cent over the year.
Average daily turnover in traditional OTC foreign exchange instruments (spot, outright forwards and foreign exchange swaps) in the Australian market was US$184.9 billion in April 2010. This was an increase of 38 per cent from October 2009, and an increase of 54 per cent over the year.
Average daily turnover in OTC options and cross-currency interest rate swaps (currency swaps) in the Australian market was US$6.3 billion in April 2010. Turnover in OTC options increased by 3 per cent from October 2009 but decreased by 1 per cent from April 2009. Turnover in currency swaps decreased by 21 per cent from October 2009, but increased by 87 per cent from April 2009.

Tables 1 to 5 report summaries of foreign exchange turnover in the Australian market by instrument, counterparty, currency and maturity for April 2010, with some comparisons to October 2009. Tables 6a to 6c provide the full set of data for April 2010.

For the purposes of this report, turnover is defined as the gross value of all new deals entered into during the month (regardless of whether or not settlement was made during the period) and is reported in terms of the nominal or notional amount of the contracts. Figures reflect all deals struck in Australia, irrespective of where deals are booked (i.e. data are collected on a sales desk basis). As such, survey results are comparable to the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) Triennial survey. All amounts in this report are converted to US dollars using the average AUD/USD exchange rate for the month in which data are collected.

The next semi-annual report will be released in January 2011, presenting data for October 2010. Monthly data for selected series can be accessed at: https://www.rba.gov.au/statistics/index.html

Similar semi-annual foreign exchange turnover surveys are conducted for a number of foreign exchange markets. The results of these surveys can be found at:

Canada http://www.cfec.ca/fx_volume.html

Singapore http://www.sfemc.org/

UK http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/markets/forex/fxjsc/index.htm

US http://www.newyorkfed.org/fxc

Similar annual foreign exchange turnover surveys are conducted for the following markets:

Japan http://www.fxcomtky.com/index_e.html

For queries regarding the RBA foreign exchange turnover survey, please contact:

The Senior Analyst
Market Analysis
International Department
Reserve Bank of Australia
Email: turnoversurvey@rba.gov.au
Phone: +61 2 9551 8477