Semi-Annual Report on Foreign Exchange Turnover

April 2011

The Semi-Annual Report on Foreign Exchange Turnover compiles data from 26 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 2011 are presented in the summary tables and charts below.

The main findings of the report are:

Total average daily turnover in all OTC foreign exchange instruments in the Australian market was US$219.1 billion in April 2011. This was an increase of 12 per cent from October 2010, and an increase of 14 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$210.0 billion in April 2011. This was 13 per cent higher from October 2010 and over the year.
Average daily turnover in OTC options and cross-currency interest rate swaps (currency swaps) in the Australian market was US$9.1 billion in April 2011. This was a decline of 7 per cent from October 2010, but an increase of 43 per cent over the year. Currency swaps were first introduced to the survey in March 2007.

Tables 1 to 5 report summaries of foreign exchange turnover in the Australian market by instrument, counterparty, currency and maturity for April 2011, with some comparisons to October 2010. Tables 6a to 6c provide the full set of data for April 2011.

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 2012, presenting data for October 2011.

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 Analyst
Market Analysis
International Department
Reserve Bank of Australia
Email: turnoversurvey@rba.gov.au
Phone: +61 2 9551 8497