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Canada's international transactions in securities, July 2013

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Released: 2013-09-16

Foreign investors resumed their acquisition of Canadian securities by adding $6.1 billion to their holdings in July, following a $15.4 billion divestment in June. Meanwhile, Canadian investment in foreign securities slowed to $0.9 billion and focused on bonds.

Foreign investors resume their acquisition of Canadian securities

Foreign investors acquired $6.1 billion of Canadian securities in July, following a $15.4 billion divestment in June. Inflows in the month targeted both debt and equity securities.

Non-resident investment in Canadian bonds was $3.6 billion. The investment focus was on private corporate bonds, mainly foreign currency denominated instruments, and, to a lesser extent, federal government bonds. The overall supply of Canadian bonds, both government and corporate, increased over the month. This activity followed a record $19.1 billion foreign divestment in Canadian bonds in June, led by retirements.

Chart 1  Chart 1: Foreign investment in Canadian securities - Description and data table
Foreign investment in Canadian securities

Chart 1: Foreign investment in Canadian securities - Description and data table

Non-residents invested $0.9 billion in the Canadian money market in July, a fourth straight month of investment. Most of the activity was in government paper, as foreign investment in Treasury bills was moderated by a divestment in provincial paper. Canadian short- and long-term interest rates were both down slightly in July, following increases in June. The Canadian dollar appreciated against its US counterpart for the first time since April.

Foreign investors acquired Canadian equities for a fourth straight month, adding $1.5 billion to their holdings in July. Canadian shares from the energy and gold sectors led the inflows. The Canadian stock market was up by 2.9% in July.

Canadians continue to invest in foreign bonds

Canadian acquisitions of foreign securities slowed from $3.7 billion in June to $0.9 billion in July. Investment in the month again focused on foreign bonds, as Canadians reduced their holdings of foreign equities.

Canadian acquisitions of $1.6 billion of foreign bonds marked a sixth straight month of investment in these instruments. Purchases were evenly split between US corporate bonds and non-US foreign bonds. This was moderated by the sale of US government bonds.

Chart 2  Chart 2: Canadian investment in foreign securities - Description and data table
Canadian investment in foreign securities

Chart 2: Canadian investment in foreign securities - Description and data table

Canadian investors, led by pension funds, reduced their holdings of foreign equities by $0.7 billion in July. Sales of US stocks were partially offset by acquisitions of non-US foreign stocks. Canadians have invested in non-US foreign stocks for five straight months, but divested of US stocks in four of these five months. US stock prices were up by 4.6% in July, closing the month at an all-time high.

  Note to readers

The data series on international transactions in securities cover portfolio transactions in equity and investment fund shares, bonds and money market instruments for both Canadian and foreign issues. This activity excludes transactions in equity and debt instruments between affiliated enterprises, classified as foreign direct investment in the international accounts.

Equity and investment fund shares include common and preferred equities as well as units/shares of investment funds.

Debt securities include bonds and money market instruments.

Bonds have an original term to maturity of more than one year.

Money market instruments have an original term to maturity of one year or less.

Government of Canada paper includes treasury bills and US-dollar Canada bills.

All values in this release are net transactions unless otherwise stated.

Data on Canada's international transactions in securities for August will be released on October 17.

Contact information

For more information, contact us (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 514-283-8300; infostats@statcan.gc.ca).

To enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Lauren Dong (613-951-3282; lauren.dong@statcan.gc.ca), International Accounts and Statistics Division.

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